tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418756709875280122018-09-26T21:32:52.853-04:00Kentucky Equality Federation - In the NewsKentucky Equality Federation is Kentucky's largest all-volunteer grassroots lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex ("LGBTI") civil rights and advocacy organization. Kentucky Equality Federation is a diverse organization consisting of several corporations and groups with a common cause for Peace, Liberty, and Equality for All.Adminnoreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-38744750484788270112015-09-06T12:54:00.000-04:002015-09-06T12:57:49.748-04:00Kim Davis Won't Resign, Plans to Appeal Contempt Ruling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ThD_VRESPPw/Vexttg6dpCI/AAAAAAAACBM/tMN0TF8jRdM/s1600/hplogo-cd23d0b78ce9b45cd9ac74543d644055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ThD_VRESPPw/Vexttg6dpCI/AAAAAAAACBM/tMN0TF8jRdM/s1600/hplogo-cd23d0b78ce9b45cd9ac74543d644055.jpg" /></a></div><b>Morehead, KY (By Micheal Inzaghi) -</b> Kim Davis can either let her deputy clerks issue the licenses or gay couples can travel to other offices, he says.<br /><br />“She’s being held in contempt because she’s refusing to follow a district court decision in a suit to which she is a party, holding that same-sex couples have a right to obtain marriage licenses from her”, Vladek said.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2UWg-hf6oA/TJ9yGg8K8BI/AAAAAAAAAwg/TtzOVP3okyo/s1600/proud-parenting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2UWg-hf6oA/TJ9yGg8K8BI/AAAAAAAAAwg/TtzOVP3okyo/s1600/proud-parenting.jpg" /></a></div>With Davis still in jail for contempt over her refusal to issue marriage licenses, others in her office did begin issuing the documents today in Rowan County, after pledging they would do so under oath in a federal courtroom Thursday. “She may be the example that sparks a firestorm of resistance across this country”.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELDv771LsQE/TgEDBtgm25I/AAAAAAAAA6o/asqxv42d4qg/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELDv771LsQE/TgEDBtgm25I/AAAAAAAAA6o/asqxv42d4qg/s1600/logo.png" /></a></div>“What we end up having is the first example of the criminalization of a Christian for believing in the traditional definition of marriage“, Huckabee told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” Friday.<br /><br />“God is going to continue to bless Kim Davis“, Steele said before leading the group in prayer. “The County Clerk has presented her position through the federal court system, all of the way to the U.S. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f0013c6e-dfa7-4011-8b08-8d4bed83006f" id="5a93cbff-e10d-4601-9c69-28a0d4f08ec4">Supreme Court</gs>“. Who will be next?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDigwi0MJm8/T7nEjWrLDbI/AAAAAAAABCk/wHXRd1ELcVs/s1600/Untitled-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDigwi0MJm8/T7nEjWrLDbI/AAAAAAAABCk/wHXRd1ELcVs/s200/Untitled-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>And what of religious liberty? And it’s not just mine, it’s also Justice Roberts’ opinion. A hearing on the motion is set for Thursday.<br /><br />“It is not a light issue for me”.<br /><br />He said the governor could issue an executive order to solve the problem.<br /><br />A lawyer for Davis – Mat Staver – responded on Friday by saying that the licenses issued without her consent are void. The process could involve a notary public who does not object to the law.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tDHRc7DgPY/VexwdQ5xGaI/AAAAAAAACBY/s6UjGCJLG1E/s1600/logo5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="48" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1tDHRc7DgPY/VexwdQ5xGaI/AAAAAAAACBY/s6UjGCJLG1E/s200/logo5.png" width="200" /></a></div>The Kentucky Equality Federation, which campaigns <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="529011f6-864f-46cd-b343-24d9f1e200f9" id="d888e346-fe55-4bd5-b131-e3c0f94a49d3">on</gs> gay rights, said Davis’ religious beliefs were “incompatible with the elected <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="529011f6-864f-46cd-b343-24d9f1e200f9" id="26e2d60f-94e7-42b6-b320-179def8eea9e">office she</gs> holds”, and called for her to be impeached. Minister Jordan Palmer the secretary-general of the federation said the situation is analogous to [Kentucky] Governor Steve Beshear <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="91f31188-fe82-4161-beba-74f1630ce985" id="93080cef-0859-4157-9b00-bc5cbeb1460f">refusing</gs> to aid a region of the Commonwealth during a disaster because they are Methodist, Catholic, or they voted for a different political party.<br /><br />Palmer added "It is similar to a clerk refusing to issue driver's licenses to taxpayers of a certain gender because they don't believe they are religiously permitted to drive. Would we tolerate a governor or president who refused to repel an invasion or defend the lives they have sworn to safeguard?"<br /><br />One question that remains is if these licenses will remain valid after Davis is out of jail.<br /><br />Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has struggled for attention in the crowded 2016 contest, lashed out at Trump on Twitter. “Even really rich New Yorkers should oppose jailing Christians for their religious beliefs”.<br /><br />Ryan Anderson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based conservative think tank, said the state legislature should remove clerks’ names from the licenses as Davis has asked.<br /><br />“In the majority of states … you could be married on Saturday, post your Facebook pictures on Sunday and be fired from your job or kicked out of your apartment on Monday”, he said.<br /><br />Supporter David Baugus said he came out to keep his voice alive. “So you know, it’s a very tough situation”.<br /><br /><b>PRESS EXAMINER:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pressexaminer.com/kim-davis-won-t-resign-plans-to-appeal-contempt-ruling/73175" target="_blank">http://www.pressexaminer.com/kim-davis-won-t-resign-plans-to-appeal-contempt-ruling/73175</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Morehead, KY, USA38.1839705 -83.43268410000001738.084134 -83.594045600000015 38.283807 -83.271322600000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-9749066212191517032015-09-05T23:31:00.000-04:002015-09-05T23:36:30.252-04:00Why hasn't Rowan County Kentucky clerk been fired in gay marriage license case?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mr2H23WQtzI/T3KVceQi1EI/AAAAAAAABqs/kNbMgHtevlQ/s1600/usatoday.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mr2H23WQtzI/T3KVceQi1EI/AAAAAAAABqs/kNbMgHtevlQ/s1600/usatoday.gif" /></a></div><b>LOUISVILLE —</b> A Rowan County, Ky., clerk has continued to defy a Supreme Court ruling that she issue marriage licenses to gay couples. On Tuesday, Kim Davis said she was acting under "God's authority" when she refused to issue the licenses.<br /><br />Lawyers for the couples have asked a federal judge to hold her in contempt of court.<br /><br />The Supreme Court refused Monday to allow Davis' office to deny the licenses because of her religious beliefs. However, on Tuesday, she turned away at least four couples.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pL_3RQncmM8/VeuywRohBHI/AAAAAAAACAY/yV5Xv-BMvlM/s1600/tampa.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pL_3RQncmM8/VeuywRohBHI/AAAAAAAACAY/yV5Xv-BMvlM/s1600/tampa.png" /></a></div>Here are some answers to key questions surrounding the case.<br /><br />Question: Why hasn’t Kim Davis been fired for refusing to issue marriage licenses and defying court orders?<br /><br />Answer: She is an elected official and can only be removed from office for impeachment.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9V2lUPJ2_M8/Veuy8WxNIyI/AAAAAAAACAg/u_tMygq91mU/s1600/the-times.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9V2lUPJ2_M8/Veuy8WxNIyI/AAAAAAAACAg/u_tMygq91mU/s1600/the-times.png" /></a></div>Q: How would she be impeached?<br /><br />A: The Kentucky House of Representatives would have to charge her with an impeachable offense and the Senate would then try her.<br /><br />Q: Is that likely?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DOU14HPjg/TdnYWEJ41kI/AAAAAAAAA6E/b1i2_gjUUXY/s1600/courier-journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DOU14HPjg/TdnYWEJ41kI/AAAAAAAAA6E/b1i2_gjUUXY/s1600/courier-journal.jpg" /></a></div>A: The Kentucky Equality Federation, a gay rights group, has called for Gov. Steve Beshear to call a special session of the General Assembly to pursue impeachment. But Beshear, citing costs, has already declined to convene a special session to consider emergency legislation that would accommodate Davis and other clerks by having state government issue marriage licenses. Also, Bluegrass Polls show most Kentucky voters oppose gay marriage and support accommodating Davis. Beshear declined to comment Tuesday.<br /><br />Still Kentucky Equality Federation's secretary-general, Minister Jordan Palmer says Davis violated the oath of office and also called for her resignation "if she cannot complete her job because of religious beliefs". Minister Palmer later called the situation similar to a clerk refusing to issue driver's licenses to taxpayers of a certain gender because they don't believe they are religiously permitted to drive.<br /><br />Q: Can Davis be charged with a crime?<br /><br />A: After being denied a license four times, a gay couple has asked the Rowan County attorney to charge her with official misconduct, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. But citing a conflict of interest — he is defending the county in suits naming Davis — he referred the request to the attorney general’s office, which is deciding whether to appoint a special prosecutor.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-FYs4tDfHg/Veu0kKR8uBI/AAAAAAAACAs/NpkB1qtAM9Q/s1600/canvas2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0-FYs4tDfHg/Veu0kKR8uBI/AAAAAAAACAs/NpkB1qtAM9Q/s1600/canvas2.png" /></a></div>Q: What happens next?<br /><br />A: The two gay and straight couples who sued Davis have asked U.S. District Judge David Bunning to find her in contempt of court. A hearing is set for Thursday morning in Ashland, Ky.<br /><br />Q: What punishment could she get for that?<br /><br />A: Bunning could jail or fine <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0c20210f-a94e-4196-9be3-3c288f490e0b" id="7680bcf8-36aa-40d3-aceb-761ef31a1009">her</gs>, but the plaintiffs are seeking only monetary penalties, apparently to avoid engendering sympathy for her in jail. Bunning could order her to pay the fines out of her own pocket, rather than with <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4b481e8d-997c-4ee0-920f-97377e6d26ba" id="12151a4b-d262-440e-a823-6c660a52c916">taxpaper</gs> money.<br /><br />Q: Does Davis have any options left?<br /><br />A: She can still pursue her appeal in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, but <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e8b057c0-f2de-4498-b134-c01e56393796" id="b656180a-30d7-4f4c-8c73-f2f7addb86ba">her</gs> bids to delay compliance ran out Monday night when the Supreme Court denied her a stay.<br /><br />Q: Could local officials try to remove her?<br /><br />A: Kentucky law allows a commonwealth’s attorney to indict county judges-executives, justices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners, surveyors, jailers, county attorneys and constables for malfeasance in office or willful neglect in the discharge of official duties, for which they can be fined up to $1,000 and removed from office upon conviction. But for some reason lost to history, the statute doesn’t include county clerks.<br /><br />Q: What are Davis’ grounds for refusing to comply with court orders?<br /><br />A: She says that to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples, on which her name would be signed, conflicts with God’s definition of marriage and would violate her conscience. She says her religious liberty should be protected under the Kentucky and U.S. Constitutions and the Kentucky Religious Freedom Act.<br /><br />Sources: Kentucky Constitution and Kentucky Revised Statutes. Louisville <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="68422c16-6ac1-4c28-a758-af8405310242" id="e21b8cae-7a1e-4eb7-b16f-6cb427e47c29">lawyer Sheryl</gs> Snyder and University of Kentucky law professors Allison Connelly and Scott Bauries.<br /><br /><b>USA TODAY LINK:</b> <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/02/qa-ky-clerk-gay-marriage-license-case/71567812/" target="_blank">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/02/qa-ky-clerk-gay-marriage-license-case/71567812/</a><br /><br /><b>THE TIMES LINK:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.suffieldtimes.com/us/qa-why-hasnt-ky-clerk-been-fired-in-gay-marriage-license-case/83392/" target="_blank">http://www.suffieldtimes.com/us/qa-why-hasnt-ky-clerk-been-fired-in-gay-marriage-license-case/83392/</a><br /><br /><b>10 News Tampa (CBS):&nbsp;</b><a href="http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2015/09/02/why-hasnt-ky-clerk-been-fired-gay-marriage-license-case/71579922/" target="_blank">http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2015/09/02/why-hasnt-ky-clerk-been-fired-gay-marriage-license-case/71579922/</a><br /><br />Original story contributors:&nbsp;Andrew Wolfson, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal, and&nbsp;Mike Wynn, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal.<br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-78815552581101356802015-09-04T16:00:00.000-04:002015-09-12T22:26:39.567-04:00Gay Couple Gets Marriage License In Kentucky After Clerk Goes To Jail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEZUTStdy04/VevuJKOqztI/AAAAAAAACA8/OdFrIUlFUo4/s1600/lid.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="73" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEZUTStdy04/VevuJKOqztI/AAAAAAAACA8/OdFrIUlFUo4/s320/lid.png" width="320" /></a></div><b>Morehead, Ky (By: Alex Crown) </b>- Rowan County clerk Kim Davis has been summoned to the hearing at 11 a.m. Thursday before U.S. District Judge David Bunning. “Just because five Supreme Court judges make a ruling, it’s not a law”, she said.<br /><br />“Last night Kim Davis was incarcerated in a jail cell while the rest of us slept in our comfortable beds”. She attends Solid Rock Apostolic Church in the county seat of Morehead.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TrKFo8rOYw/TJ66jUP_xaI/AAAAAAAAAvo/NDRnS0Z-2Xw/s1600/csm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TrKFo8rOYw/TJ66jUP_xaI/AAAAAAAAAvo/NDRnS0Z-2Xw/s1600/csm.jpg" /></a></div>A fourth gay couple planned to obtain a <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="55f2eb44-a041-4c44-bb26-af091bd3cbb0" id="ee8477f9-ff2e-470a-a12b-54e64a397c49">licence</gs> in the afternoon. He said Davis’ efforts are misguided.<br /><br />Davis said she’s a different person since becoming a Christian 4½ years ago. “The county clerk has presented her position through the federal court system, all of the way to the U.S. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="88c62616-7e21-468a-8de6-6dbbb5a2345a" id="1a853bb7-0199-48fa-8103-3b054b2b13c8">Supreme Court</gs>".<br /><br />“Kim Davis is being treated as a criminal because she can not violate her conscience”.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O2Jh370RoOg/TVEXglWpC8I/AAAAAAAABos/Eq1yyJ4Lr3g/s1600/logo_2010.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O2Jh370RoOg/TVEXglWpC8I/AAAAAAAABos/Eq1yyJ4Lr3g/s1600/logo_2010.gif" /></a></div>The couple had previously been denied one five times. Miller said she and Roberts will get a license, “show that piece of paper off for a minute or two”, then go home and try to resume a quiet life together, without court appearances and reporters calling at all hours.<br /><br />There’s no sign Davis is getting out of jail soon. Their attorneys, along with Rowan County Attorney Cecil Watkins, said the licenses are valid. Not all the Republican White House hopefuls see it <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e775cd61-b68c-4f11-b36b-7fef2a8edf66" id="f19c1e47-5e1f-42e8-9883-65f1af191d0e">Huckabee’s way</gs>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2UWg-hf6oA/TJ9yGg8K8BI/AAAAAAAAAwg/TtzOVP3okyo/s1600/proud-parenting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2UWg-hf6oA/TJ9yGg8K8BI/AAAAAAAAAwg/TtzOVP3okyo/s1600/proud-parenting.jpg" /></a></div>Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="7f46e14d-5ae0-4646-a03e-faa3b8c33783" id="79d8a67a-126a-4fcb-a2fe-8810b1bc4c66">Thursday authorities</gs> should have found a compromise to keep Davis out of jail.<br /><br />Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear said he will allow any legal consequences which are prescribed to clerks who choose not to issue the marriage licenses. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="2948799e-6a26-4106-be82-1e2acc341fc1" id="4366ebd8-bd9c-43b7-8c65-6e0d357cd5a7">Davis’ name</gs> does not appear on the licenses.<br /><br />A second gay couple has arrived at a Kentucky clerk’s office to apply for a marriage license.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjTRz2zxtss/T7nEgg5WWiI/AAAAAAAABCc/ju53LnXF5AU/s1600/cnn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjTRz2zxtss/T7nEgg5WWiI/AAAAAAAABCc/ju53LnXF5AU/s1600/cnn.jpg" /></a></div>The sixth deputy clerk, Davis’ son Nathan, would not agree to issue <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6d50d41f-1d1a-4af6-aa7e-6acbb7072364" id="049cab1e-15dd-4e22-ac03-197bbfaa85f3">licences</gs>, but he was not jailed. The Longs did not respond, and a worker told the man to leave.<br /><br />The Kentucky Equality Federation's secretary-general, Minister Jordan Palmer, which campaigns <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4fa60866-e9a2-4d12-83dd-f553088fd6e7" id="36ba80c5-773e-4360-ad3d-b92061ed03c8">on</gs> gay rights, said Davis’ religious beliefs were “incompatible with the elected <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4fa60866-e9a2-4d12-83dd-f553088fd6e7" id="9c45430d-41f4-4343-afcd-d70990806976">office she</gs> holds”, and called for her to be impeached during a telephone interview. <br /><br />In a prepared statement Palmer stated: <br /><blockquote>"The fact is, Davis is not in prison because of her beliefs. She is being held in contempt of court because she refuses to resolve the job taxpayers elected her to perform and has broken her oath of office. She could easily resign and end the entire situation, but I suspect the national spotlight is truly the motivation. The office of an elected official is a public trust, not a personal platform for refusing service to the "wrong" sort of people; this reeks of the oppression of far-off lands where officials can make discriminatory rules and enforce summary judgement against certain classes, genders, orientations, races, and castes.</blockquote><blockquote>We are all equal before the law, and we encourage Davis to do the right thing, embrace the standard of public service (as she swore an oath to do), and comply with Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate's ruling in Kentucky Equality Federation v. Commonwealth of Kentucky and the ruling of the U.S. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f7647ece-0316-4951-bea5-a26064c22511" id="3b81bc25-e044-4ff9-b9dc-263a961c4424">Supreme Court</gs>."</blockquote>As Yates and Smith left the building, supporters chanted “Love has won!”<br /><br />The “bulk of them” would likely be from Rowan County, an area of more than 23,300 people, said Palmer.<br /><br />“She has no intention to resign”, he said. He said it would be up to same-sex couples to decide whether to test the validity of the licenses.<br /><br />At 8:30 this morning, James Yates stepped out of the Rowan County Courthouse and rushed across the steps to hug his mom.<br /><br />But American Civil Liberties Union attorneys contended Davis has no legal basis to avoid performing her duties as a government clerk.<br /><br />Her defiance of the court order has drawn national attention.<br /><br /><b>LIDTIME.COM: </b>http://www.lidtime.com/gay-couple-gets-marriage-license-in-kentucky-after-clerk-goes-to-jail-1429/ <br /><br />INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES:&nbsp;http://www.ibtimes.com/rowan-county-gay-marriage-update-couples-receive-marriage-licenses-kim-davis-office-2083640Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-13455870610130545932015-09-04T13:26:00.000-04:002015-09-06T13:32:32.356-04:00Kim Davis Supporters Will Have a Hard Time Raising Money OnlineBy Aryan Marshall<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---4JEw0PfbA/Vex2kXK4bHI/AAAAAAAACBs/VpkAFjFTvE0/s1600/daily.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---4JEw0PfbA/Vex2kXK4bHI/AAAAAAAACBs/VpkAFjFTvE0/s1600/daily.png" /></a></div>Given the culture war brouhaha surrounding Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, it’s no wonder there are people itching to write her checks. For some, the Apostolic Christian is something of a martyr, sacrificing her personal freedoms to take a stand against same-sex marriage. After a federal judge Thursday held Davis in contempt of court and sent her to jail, that perception has only grown.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r51i6lSV4EU/Vex2mZ1zb_I/AAAAAAAACB0/6KKiDeZfXAw/s1600/good.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r51i6lSV4EU/Vex2mZ1zb_I/AAAAAAAACB0/6KKiDeZfXAw/s1600/good.png" /></a></div>But Davis supporters are going to have a hard time raising money online.<br /><br />That’s because the popular crowdfunding site GoFundMe has a specific policy against supporting those facing charges of discrimination.<br /><br />Here’s the policy, added to the website in April of this year: <br /><blockquote>GoFundMe will not allow campaigns that benefit individuals or groups facing formal charges or claims of serious violations of the law.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9MpZJUoERRA/Vex2rOsoj2I/AAAAAAAACB8/1W08zZwut1g/s1600/pad.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9MpZJUoERRA/Vex2rOsoj2I/AAAAAAAACB8/1W08zZwut1g/s1600/pad.png" /></a></div>The amendedment can be found under the ‘What’s Not Allowed’ section of our terms, as well as below: <br /><blockquote>Campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts </blockquote>That’s you, Kim! And it appears that GoFundMe has stuck to its guns: As of writing, there are no fundraising campaigns for Davis on the site.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fxciRvm6ojc/TJ7DRSXnIpI/AAAAAAAAAv0/8w2fOLdPVUE/s1600/nku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fxciRvm6ojc/TJ7DRSXnIpI/AAAAAAAAAv0/8w2fOLdPVUE/s1600/nku.jpg" /></a></div>Davis’ huge and money-savvy network of supporters is part of the reason U.S. District Judge David Bunning decided to send the county clerk to jail. After Davis testified Thursday that the Liberty Counsel, a Christian public interest law firm, had already begun collecting money on her behalf, “Bunning rejected the possibility” of fining her instead, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GvA1t6Ejs4w/T9BNV4Lo8CI/AAAAAAAABDY/8ISHBCK-PLE/s1600/life-site-news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GvA1t6Ejs4w/T9BNV4Lo8CI/AAAAAAAABDY/8ISHBCK-PLE/s1600/life-site-news.jpg" /></a></div>Of course, there’s still big money in the high-profile media circus, not least for the 2016 presidential nominees who have come out as Davis supporters. Republicans Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee have gone on record as <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="28ce9bba-e118-4563-a1bf-b7cb74d3350d" id="2d56e598-64f1-4460-80c3-829d9f6d53ec">strong</gs> Davis advocates. You can bet her plight will become the focus of their own fundraising campaigns.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>Meanwhile, those still to donate online can head to CrowdRise, where organizers are raising money for a Kim Davis Miracle Makeover. All proceeds will go to the LGBT stylists who will help the county clerk with her transformation—and should she refuse their help, to the Kentucky Equality Federation.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0I8suSzsvGg/Vex4iLyPYOI/AAAAAAAACCM/4a07Zk_VRxY/s1600/go.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0I8suSzsvGg/Vex4iLyPYOI/AAAAAAAACCM/4a07Zk_VRxY/s1600/go.png" /></a></div><br />Minister Jordan Palmer, secretary-general of the Kentucky Equality Federation alliance stated: <br /><blockquote>We are all equal before the law, and we encourage Davis to do the right thing, embrace the standard of public service (as she swore an oath to do), and comply with Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate's ruling in Kentucky Equality Federation v. Commonwealth of Kentucky and the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court. She is being held in contempt of court because she refuses to resolve the job taxpayers elected her to perform and has broken her oath of office. She could easily resign and end the entire situation, but I suspect the national spotlight is truly the motivation. </blockquote><blockquote>The office of an elected official is a public trust, not a personal platform for refusing service to the "wrong" sort of people; this reeks of the oppression of far-off lands where officials can make discriminatory rules and enforce summary judgement against certain classes, genders, orientations, races, and castes.</blockquote>Calls&nbsp;<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b38a2183-e53f-4dfe-845d-6728522ed56e" id="15cca0e3-f6f3-49ff-a8f2-10017233c03c">to</gs> Joshua Koch the president of the Kentucky Public Advocate Service, a Kentucky Equality Federation member <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b38a2183-e53f-4dfe-845d-6728522ed56e" id="976b532e-d4fb-44e3-89aa-0468e86d53ed">was not immediately returned</gs>.<br /><br /><b>PADUCAH:</b> <a href="http://isurfpaducah.com/2015/09/05/gay-couple-gets-marriage-license-in-kentucky-after-clerk/" target="_blank">http://isurfpaducah.com/2015/09/05/gay-couple-gets-marriage-license-in-kentucky-after-clerk/</a>&nbsp; <br /><br /><b>GOOD MAGAZINE:</b> <a href="http://magazine.good.is/articles/kim-davis-supporters-will-have-a-hard-time-raising-money-online" target="_blank">http://magazine.good.is/articles/kim-davis-supporters-will-have-a-hard-time-raising-money-online</a>&nbsp; <br /><br /><b>NEWS ROOM:</b> <a href="http://tvnewsroom.org/newslines/u-s/despite-ruling-kentucky-gay-couple-denied-marriage-license-for-the-third-time-107834/" target="_blank">http://tvnewsroom.org/newslines/u-s/despite-ruling-kentucky-gay-couple-denied-marriage-license-for-the-third-time-107834/</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-37458322041393921932015-08-30T15:12:00.001-04:002015-08-30T15:31:00.876-04:00Session asked to impeach Rowan clerk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/08/29/session-asked-impeach-rowan-clerk/71389770/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DOU14HPjg/TdnYWEJ41kI/AAAAAAAAA6E/b1i2_gjUUXY/s1600/courier-journal.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/08/29/session-asked-impeach-rowan-clerk/71389770/" target="_blank">Courier-Journal Logo</a></td></tr></tbody></table>The Kentucky Equality Federation, an agency that supports what it calls "marriage equality," issued a plea Saturday for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear to call a special session of the General Assembly to pursue impeachment of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis.<br /><br />Minister Jordan Palmer, secretary-general of the federation, issued a <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6b5883c2-5b9b-4e0a-977c-f90d838d907e" id="a74dd295-0c1a-47c2-afea-8c1cdb15df33">release contending</gs> that <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="6b5883c2-5b9b-4e0a-977c-f90d838d907e" id="3e75bdfb-ed4e-44cc-aef2-64832edee4d0">actions</gs> of Davis to deny marriage licenses to gay couples defies Kentucky and U.S. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e55fb131-3950-4c3a-bfbd-f90341e252fc" id="8e73f673-1c97-4b86-bebe-2b12ab25746f">court</gs> rulings.<br /><br />Palmer said, "This violates the oath of office taken by Kim Davis and, if she cannot complete her job because of religious beliefs, then she should resign. Government is free of religion and religious beliefs. Perhaps Ms. Davis would be happier in a religious state such as Afghanistan, Iran, or Iraq."<br /><br />Rowan County Clerk Davis has asked Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan to stay enforcement of a federal court ruling requiring Rowan to issue marriage <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="295c4bee-c4c8-4488-ba7f-cf1896612470" id="7c7547ec-b98e-4aba-9618-124e1a1e557c">licences</gs> to gay couples.<br /><br />In an emergency application, Davis asks Kagan to delay Judge David Bunning’s order while her appeal is being considered by the U.S. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="84bbfc61-31ad-4d73-811c-2dbe70d559b0" id="cd77aeb3-5b8b-49b2-a6a9-eaac521c1498">6th Circuit Court</gs>, which refused to issue a stay.<br /><br />The application was filed with Kagan because she considers such requests from Kentucky and the three other states in the 6th Circuit.<br /><br />Kagan voted with the 5-4 majority in June that required all states to recognize same-sex marriages.<br /><br /><b>Subscribe to the Courier-Journal:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/08/29/session-asked-impeach-rowan-clerk/71389770/" target="_blank">http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/08/29/session-asked-impeach-rowan-clerk/71389770/</a><br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com2Morehead, KY, USA38.1839705 -83.43268410000001738.084134 -83.594045600000015 38.283807 -83.271322600000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-26522106168521303952015-08-29T15:09:00.000-04:002015-08-30T15:31:29.582-04:00Folks rally outside Rowan County Courthouse<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Folks-rally-outside-Rowan-County-Courthouse-323336311.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVzPkvNbH-I/TJ9ayqFai_I/AAAAAAAABjk/y58jAAl1mWQ/s1600/wymt.gif" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Folks-rally-outside-Rowan-County-Courthouse-323336311.html" target="_blank">WYMT-TV Logo</a></td></tr></tbody></table><b>MOREHEAD, Ky. (WKYT-TV and WYMT-TV)</b> - Another fairness rally was held outside of the Rowan County Courthouse Saturday as the clerk there continues to not issue marriage licenses.<br /><br />Several couples who have been denied marriage licenses were at the rally.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Folks-rally-outside-Rowan-County-Courthouse-323336311.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SsRz0UkJdTE/TJ9vY3Cw2UI/AAAAAAAAAwc/N8BwNPWmbWQ/s1600/wkyt_lexington.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Folks-rally-outside-Rowan-County-Courthouse-323336311.html" target="_blank">WKYT-TV Logo</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Kim Davis stopped issuing all marriage licenses after the United States Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage back in June.<br /><br />"<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="00c8e16e-3587-4ed8-a565-a081748ef02f" id="1dd106c6-d410-47fc-8c9b-cf7126ffcbbe"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="0479ed93-c155-4566-94af-4fc7c323b30d" id="2d3dbc02-771d-4241-9184-f0bb1605992e">Oh we</gs></gs> jumped up and down we were so happy that night," said Karen Roberts. "We are really proud of our country and our nation and we were really excited to be able to finally get legally married," added April Miller<br /><br />However, their excitement quickly changed when they were denied a license in their hometown on June 30th.<br /><br />"I was angry about that<gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b94f8641-62d7-4741-b4fb-17eae2a8a8a0" id="1a2c2ac6-0725-4394-8efa-8797a0f8bef8"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f6056cb3-8874-4931-a26d-8c66e2f3842a" id="d792b726-a458-4ed3-9463-1884c8118f30">...</gs></gs>I felt ostracized and I felt marginalized," explained Miller.<br /><br />Those feelings are some of the reasons why for every single day the courthouse is open, the Rowan County Rights Coalition has been outside. Working to support those who have been turned <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1214210d-d515-455d-b500-3072c0ba6837" id="3f7260e2-69e0-4c29-975b-36eedbb2eae9"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4eec65cc-602e-4fc0-93dd-f16c3d1e1f46" id="e1ea42aa-6930-4884-96f8-30eab7ef9c50">away which</gs></gs> is not only limited to same sex couples.<br /><br />"We are a heterosexual couple. I've had the right to get married for the past 100 years," said Joey Fernandez.<br /><br />Many couples of these couples say they've been told to go somewhere else.<br /><br />"I don't live there I don't pay my taxes there. My taxes are paid here and pay her salary," said Roberts. Miller added, "We have never had to go somewhere else to pay our car licenses."<br /><br />Saturday's rally came the day after a flurry of new appeals, filings, and rulings in the case of Kim Davis. That includes an official misconduct complaint against her has been referred to the attorney general from the county attorney.<br /><br /><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1247e534-ca88-4373-8bb2-9a71597ff162" id="97a7476c-0671-4df5-9a6e-992cf3735b4c"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f6198766-1c38-4b1a-81e1-74a532819e6c" id="9d1e8098-9a55-4b41-80c3-870583c85f0b">Davis' office</gs></gs> was scheduled to be open on Saturday, <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1247e534-ca88-4373-8bb2-9a71597ff162" id="44618ae1-29e2-4e2b-b664-35dd3b61d54e"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="f6198766-1c38-4b1a-81e1-74a532819e6c" id="9993d1f5-3607-452d-a77d-23e67d03fc2f">however was</gs></gs> closed with a sign on the door asking those who were expecting it to be open and "inconvenienced" to leave their name.<br /><br />Davis did file an emergency application asking the United States Supreme Court to review her appeal. She also filed paperwork asking a U.S. District Court Judge to extend her temporary stay a request that was quickly denied.<br /><br />Also at Saturday's rally a transgender couple claiming Kim Davis unknowingly issued them a marriage license.<br /><br />Camryn Colen, who is transgender, says he and his wife Alexis were married February 26th. Camryn says he was born female and when going to apply for the marriage license was not asked to show any identification.<br /><br />"It was issued, they were married that day. It was filed so in all actuality she married a gay couple," explained Mary Hargis, with the Rowan County Rights Coalition.<br /><br />On Saturday afternoon, the Kentucky Equality Federation released a statement, asking that Governor Beshear <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8c538a22-7a66-4a15-a7cd-8c94b32f1114" id="85faca5c-2a56-4e54-be89-4458d975708f"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="462292d6-0b68-471b-80df-16f5734010f3" id="84eb3bdc-8fe7-4231-be27-326d72c738f6"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="4b71043d-eda7-4e44-a54b-64822989248b" id="3a6479f8-d71a-4916-9b12-d5258c8ef8a9">call</gs></gs></gs> a special session to impeach Davis.<br /><br />"Today, we call on Governor Steve Beshear to call a Special Session of the Kentucky General Assembly to impeach the Rowan County Clerk. The action of the Clerk defies Kentucky and U.S. Court rulings. This violates the oath of office taken by Kim Davis and if she cannot complete her job because of "religious beliefs" then she should resign. Government is free of religion and religious beliefs. Perhaps Ms. Davis would be happier in a religious state such as Afghanistan, Iran, or Iraq." - Minister Jordan Palmer, Secretary-General of Kentucky Equality Federation and its member organization, Marriage Equality Kentucky.<br /><br />"Kentucky Equality Federation attorneys are working now to file a lawsuit in Kentucky Courts." On April 16, 2015 Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Wingate struck-down Kentucky's 2004 Ban on Same-Sex Marriage in the Commonwealth of Kentucky stating, "Kentucky's statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriage void and unenforceable for violating Plaintiff and Plaintiff's Members Constitutional Rights."<br /><br /><b>Subscribe to WYMT and/or WKYT:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Folks-rally-outside-Rowan-County-Courthouse-323336311.html" target="_blank">http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Folks-rally-outside-Rowan-County-Courthouse-323336311.html</a><br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Morehead, KY, USA38.1839705 -83.43268410000001738.084134 -83.594045600000015 38.283807 -83.271322600000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-72592638868438451802015-04-12T15:32:00.002-04:002015-04-12T15:32:43.553-04:00Kentucky Religious Freedom Bill: Two Years LaterEighteen other states have laws similar to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana. That includes Kentucky, which passed its bill in 2013. Lawmakers had to override a veto from Governor Beshear to pass it.<br /><br />We all have our beliefs.<br /><br />"I believe in the 1st Amendment for one thing, and I believe in the protection of religious freedoms," says State Sen. Joe Bowen, R - Daviess County. Bowen, who voted for Kentucky's religious freedom bill, believed more was needed to protect religious freedoms.<br /><br />"States have their own issues, and people are advocates for state's rights, and for states taking a stand on different issues, whether they be of social nature, a fiscal nature, or an economic nature," he says.<br /><br />The law, passed two years ago, says the state government can't burden a person's freedom of religion, protecting a person's right to act or refuse based on a sincerely held religious belief. <br /><br />Since then, a Kentucky Commission on Human Relations report shows there were 13 cases of religious discrimination statewide reported to them last fiscal year, an increase from 6 in 2013, but officials say they're unsure of any correlation between the rise and the law.<br /><br />Officials with the Kentucky Equality Federation say there were fears with the bill giving people right to legally discriminate. But no complaints based on the law have been filed with them so far.<br /><br />"We had promised the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the Governor's Office that, if we had any cases where people were discriminated against because of this bill, and it was not constitutional to discriminate, and thus far, we have not received any complaints," says Jordan Palmer of the Kentucky Equality Federation.<br /><br /><b>NEWS LINK:</b> <a href="http://www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/story/kentucky-religious-freedom-bill-two-years-later/21943/77j1kD9bp0KXBklCY2qUMQ" target="_blank">http://www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/story/kentucky-religious-freedom-bill-two-years-later/21943/77j1kD9bp0KXBklCY2qUMQ</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-82195400982441969142015-02-26T15:54:00.000-05:002015-04-12T15:56:44.899-04:00Senate committee passes amended transgender bill <b>Messenger, The (Madisonville, KY) - </b>The Senate Education Committee has revisited a bill that would require transgender students to use bathrooms matching their biological sex.<br /><br />"We didn't know that it was going to happen until about 30 seconds before it did," he continued. "When the bill's sponsor, Sen. C.B. Embry, came into the room, it was clear they were going to revote on the bill, and they did."<br /><br />The "Kentucky Student Privacy Act" originally included language allowing students to sue their school $2,500 each time they found a person of the opposite biological gender in a bathroom or locker room.<br /><br />The bill was amended prior to the committee vote Feb. 19, deleting that measure and its emergency provision.<br /><br />"They did eliminate the bounty, because people made their voices heard," Hartman said. "They don't even know what they are trying to legislate right here. Is it an emergency or not? Can you sue the school or not?"<br /><br />Embry filed a draft of the bill given to him by the Kentucky Family Foundation, he said in a previous report.<br /><br />The bill was pieced together following a controversy at Atherton High School in Louisville, where a transgender student born male and identifying as female wanted to use the girls' bathrooms and locker rooms.<br /><br />"(The Kentucky Family Foundation) received a number of contacts from parents (of students from Atherton High School) who are concerned about the issue and felt that it should be addressed," he said in the report.<br /><br />"I think we should make an accommodation where transgender students are not put into a situation where they are causing other people to be uneasy," he continued. "Seems like common sense to have boys use the boys' restroom and girls use the girls' restroom."<br /><br />Kent Ostrander, the executive director of the Family Foundation of Kentucky, said he is not surprised the bill passed. "Two of the committee members had been involved in medical emergencies the week before," he said. "The chairman recognized that there were members that wanted that bill, so he had it reheard."<br /><br />In a statement released Monday evening, a coalition of Kentucky pro-LGBT groups noted that three senators, including two who voted against the bill Feb. 19, were missing from Monday's vote, according to a report from the Huffington Post.<br /><br />"This bill gives local school districts all the latitude they need to deal fairly and responsibility with protection for all the students including transgenders," Ostrander said. "We think it is a good deal and that most parents want that."<br /><br /><br />If the bill passes through the Senate, it will most likely move to the House Education Committee next, according to Jordan Palmer, the president and founder of the Kentucky Equality Federation.<br /><br />"I would say it has a very good chance of passing the committee, simply because Democrats can't afford to be soft on these issues, or they are going to continue to lose seats in the House," he said.<br /><br />Palmer said the bill sends a "very negative message" to transgender students.<br /><br />"It sends the message that there is something wrong with them, when in fact there is nothing wrong with them," he said. "I don't know what it's like to be born into a body that tells me I'm something else.<br /><br />"At the same time, it is my job as a community member and a community leader to support and not to judge," he continued. "I don't understand it, but just because I don't understand it doesn't mean that I condemn it or that I'm afraid of it," he added. Conducting an unannounced revote on the bill was an "underhanded" move to keep opposition at bay, Palmer said.<br /><br />"It will be very different in the house," he said. "The house will take a lot of public opinion and they will hear a lot of testimony, because Speaker (Greg) Stumbo will ensure that they do."<br /><br />The Messenger was unable to contact Embry on Wednesday.<br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-64578187540970188262015-01-30T16:02:00.000-05:002015-04-12T16:03:45.996-04:00Transgender school-bathroom use petition circulating at North A Madisonville-North Hopkins High School student has created a petition asking the school district to accommodate transgender students with regard to the use of school restrooms. <br /><br />The petition, which currently has more than 50 signatures, demands that transgender students have the right to use the bathroom of their choosing, rather than a handicap bathroom the students are being asked to use.<br /><br />The petition also insists that school staff call transgender students by their chosen pronoun, 17-year-old Ashley Marks, the petition's author and a transgender student at the school, said.<br /><br />'Transgender students have to use the handicap bathroom and we don't agree with that,' he said. 'They should be able to use the bathroom of their choice.'<br /><br />MNHHS student Justice Mitchell, 17, said she has friends who are transgender, and she has signed the petition because she does not agree with current bathroom procedures.<br /><br />'I think (transgender students) should use the bathroom that they want to,' Mitchell said. 'I don't like the way people treat them. It's not fair to treat someone badly because they aren't like you.'<br /><br />The 'Kentucky Student Privacy Act,' a bill introduced into the senate Jan. 9 by Sen. C.B. Embry Jr., R-Morgantown, would ban transgender students from using school restrooms and locker rooms that don't fit their anatomical sex.<br /><br />The bill, SB76, also allows students to sue the school $2,500 each time they find a person of the opposite biological gender in a bathroom or locker room.<br /><br />'The Kentucky Family Foundation gave me the draft and I filed it on their behalf,' Embry said. 'Reportedly, they have received a number of contacts from parents (of students from Atherton High School in Louisville) who are concerned about the issue and felt that it should be addressed.'<br /><br />Kent Ostrander, the executive director of the Family Foundation of Kentucky, said the school's policies were problematic. 'On one hand, the school is correct in wanting to be sensitive to a student that is conflicted, or determining their gender identity,' he said, 'but on the other hand, the solution they came up with violates the privacy rights of every other student.' In the Hopkins County School District, there are no policies regarding the use of school bathrooms by transgender students, according to Communications and Community Engagement Specialist Lori Harrison.<br /><br />'It is unchartered territory,' Hopkins County Schools Superintendent Linda Zellich said. 'To my knowledge, there's not any law regulating that right now. As individual students present things to us, we're going to deal with them individually.' Zellich said she had not seen the petition as of Thursday evening.<br /><br />'I got in a lot of trouble at my school for starting this petition,' Marks said. 'I got called to the principal's office because I sent an email around to all my teachers asking them for their help. Multiple school officials were asking me questions about it.<br /><br />'They kept telling me it wasn't an interrogation, but it seemed like one,' he continued. 'I don't think they understand the concept of what I am trying to do. One of them didn't even know what transgender meant. He had to Google it in front of me.' Zellich was aware that MNHHS staff spoke with a student about the petition, she said.<br /><br />'I have not talked to a student,' Zellich said. 'I do not want to say much more than that because I don't want to violate any students' rights. I just don't feel comfortable doing that. I think we just have to deal with them as they come to us. 'Our first job is to see they get an education, but we want them to get that education in a safe environment and we have to protect the rights of all children as best we can,' she continued. 'If that is what that child wants, then they have to let it be known.'<br /><br />If a student organizes a meeting with a principal about an issue, Zellich said she expects that principal to present the information to her.<br /><br />'If that didn't occur, then I would expect the child or the child's parents to make contact with me so we can work through it,' she said. 'That is what works best for everybody — one-on-one conversations — because we can talk about more things.' The proposed bill could potentially increase school bullying, according to Jordan Palmer, the president and founder of the Kentucky Equality Federation, which is a member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association.<br /><br />'If you are a man dressed like a woman and you are going into a man's bathroom, what are the other students going to think?' he said. 'I think that they are just trying to put a patch on something that is a greater issue. They are looking at it only from a heterosexual point of view and they can't do that.<br /><br />'It's a double-edged sword,' he continued. 'We've condemned the legislation, but at the same time we find ourselves in agreement with (Embry's) comment that there is no perfect solution. I don't think that there will be a perfect solution until they have bathrooms specifically for trans people.'<br /><br />Embry has only received emails complaining about transgender bathroom policies from females and parents of students, he said. 'I think we should make an accommodation where transgender students are not put into a situation where they are causing other people to be uneasy,' Embry said. 'Seems like common sense to have boys use the boys' restroom and girls use the girls' restroom. Accommodations should be made for others. We don't want them to have any problems either.'<br /><br />Ostrander agreed.<br /><br />'(Transgender students) are not the ‘boogeyman,'' he said. 'You know young people. Young people are all foolish. We've all been there. Who would be harassed more? A transgender student who is coming out of a third bathroom that is earmarked for them, or a transgender male coming out of a woman's bathroom?'<br /><br />Students Palmer has spoken with are 'terrified' that Embry's bill will become law, he said.<br /><br />'We had a trans female that looks like a male — with facial hair and everything — say that he would not feel comfortable in, and would not go into, a ladies' restroom,' Palmer said. 'As a gay male with a lot of trans friends, I can relate to the psychological torture that they go through. It's not easy for them.<br /><br />'Their body is telling them one thing and their mind is telling them another,' he continued. 'I have a very close friend that is female and he tapes his breasts down. He doesn't want anyone to see them. He has blood clots from taping his breasts to his body so tightly. He is so ashamed of them he says there are days he just wants to die because he has them.'<br /><br />Two weeks ago, Marks said he overdosed on medication due to harassment from students at MNHHS.<br /><br />'I was sent to Deaconess Hospital for a week because I was suicidal,' Marks said. 'Kids were harassing me and my friends on the Internet. My mom is having trouble accepting me for who I am, and my dad is really religious. Since I've been out of the hospital, they've both been more accepting of me. It took that to get it.'<br /><br />Marks disagrees with government imposed fines related to SB76, he said.<br /><br />'I think it is disrespectful that you can sue because you saw someone in a restroom,' Marks said. 'You don't see body parts as it is. What they do and what restroom they want to use is no one's business but their own.'<br /><br />The $2,500 fine would be 'inflicted against the school,' not the student, Embry said.<br /><br />'If school administrators chose not to obey it and to allow things to go on as presently, in opposition to the law, then the school would be subject to fines,' he said. 'The transgender student would not be subject to the fine. Nothing is aimed at that person. It would be at the school for not obeying the law.'<br /><br />Zellich is aware of Embry's proposed bill, she said.<br /><br />'I just have to wait and see what the final outcome is,' Zellich said. 'If there becomes specific language that we must as a school system do, then I'm obligated under the law to apply that law to the best of my ability.'<br /><br />Embry said he believes the issue needs to be discussed 'with both sides present.'<br /><br />'Then there would be a better understanding of everyone's viewpoints,' he said.<br /><br />Palmer agreed.<br /><br />'If they want to file legislation like that, what they should do is get representatives from organizations like Kentucky Equality Federation, Marriage Equality Kentucky, and Lexington Fairness and have a hearing on that issue,' he said. 'We're also talking about the same House and Senate that has never had a hearing on a statewide equality law, so … it will never happen.'<br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-68536896101039899922013-06-11T14:00:00.000-04:002014-08-21T10:11:53.445-04:00Richmond gay-rights activist Scottie Wayne Saltsman dies at 44<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" /></a></div>Scottie Wayne Saltsman, 44, of Richmond, who had been honored as Ambassador of Goodwill by the Kentucky Equality Federation last week, died Sunday of cancer.<br /><br />Mr. Saltsman was a former Kentucky State police officer and had been a supervisor at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training and a law enforcement instructor at Eastern Kentucky University, his alma mater.<br /><br />He was co-chair of the Bluegrass Chapter of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance and volunteered for various other fairness organizations and movements.<br /><br />Mr. Saltsman had been secretary of the Richmond Human Rights Commission but resigned last year when the commission refused to extend protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.<br /><br />Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer said goodwill ambassador is the organization's highest honor.<br /><br />David Corbett, chairperson of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, said Mr. Saltsman "did everything and anything he could do to help" the alliance: "lick envelopes, send letters, and (he) was always there when you needed him, but he never really took the limelight."<br /><br />Mr. Saltsman was alive to receive the goodwill ambassador distinction June 3, but the plaque was presented to his mother Linda Pedigo Saltsman at his request, Palmer said.<br /><br />"It's an amazing feeling to accept something for my son and to get that plaque honoring him," Linda Saltsman said.<br /><br />Other Kentucky goodwill ambassadors include former state Treasurer Jonathan Miller and Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" /></a></div>Originally from Glasgow, Mr. Saltsman graduated from EKU, where he was described as being an "open, compassionate and accepting educator" by ex-EKU professor Marta Miranda.<br /><br />Mr. Saltsman is survived by his parents, Jimmy and Linda Pedigo Saltsman, and a brother, Tony Saltsman.<br /><br />The funeral is at 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday at Hatcher &amp; Saddler Funeral Home in Glasgow with burial in the Big Meadow Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Fund at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.klemf.org">www.klemf.org</a>.<br /><br /><b>Read more here:</b> <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/06/11/2675013/richmond-gay-rights-activist-scottie.html#storylink=cpy">http://www.kentucky.com/2013/06/11/2675013/richmond-gay-rights-activist-scottie.html#storylink=cpy</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-24011858609180344032013-03-30T21:24:00.000-04:002013-04-22T21:34:01.220-04:00Kentucky's religious freedom bill divided politicians, public, ministers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" /></a></div><b>FRANKFORT — </b>The Rev. Patrick Delahanty of Louisville says he thinks the new state law dubbed the Religious Freedom Act is needed.<br /><br />"I want the state to meet the highest bar in its ability to interfere with one's religion," said Delahanty, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, which backed the bill.<br /><br />But the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper of Lexington says the new law "teeters on the verge of religious fascism" and thinks it will open the doors for people to discriminate against others in the name of God.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h7Nd9DD6syA/UXXhrYWOYbI/AAAAAAAABQc/cKSgQnOfYF8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h7Nd9DD6syA/UXXhrYWOYbI/AAAAAAAABQc/cKSgQnOfYF8/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>Kemper, minister of New Union Christian Church in Woodford County and former director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, said she was voicing only her opinions and not those of the council or her church.<br /><br />The strong disagreement between the two well-respected religious leaders underscores what was the most contentious issue in this year's General Assembly — House Bill 279.<br /><br />On the final night of the state legislative session Tuesday, lawmakers in the House and Senate overwhelmingly rebuffed Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear by overriding his veto of the one-paragraph bill that will become law in about three months.<br /><br />The vote in the House was 79-15; in the Senate, 32-6. Almost all of the legislators siding with the governor were from urban areas or are minorities.<br /><br />Most lawmakers were afraid politically to let the governor's veto stand, said Democratic consultant Danny Briscoe of Louisville, "because they feared it would hurt their chances of getting re-elected. This state is becoming increasingly conservative, so politicians are reluctant to do anything to go against that trend."<br /><br />Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Covington Mayor Sherry Carran and the Kentucky Association of Counties, the Kentucky League of Cities and more than 50 other groups urged Beshear to veto HB 279.<br /><br />Beshear said he supported religious freedom but worried that the bill had too many "unintended consequences" and could cost governments money in expensive and prolonged lawsuits.<br /><br />Legislators who opposed the bill echoed Beshear's concerns.<br /><br />During debate on HB 279 on Tuesday, Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, said HB 279 was a solution to a problem that didn't exist.<br /><br />"This is a piece of legislation looking for a reason," Owens said. "Because there is no reason for it, other than what I perceive to be pandering to a certain segment of this community."<br /><br />Owens said there have been cases where people have cited religious beliefs to not comply with certain laws — such as a man who didn't want to get his picture taken for his driver's license because it was against his religious beliefs. That case went to the courts, Owens said.<br /><br />Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, said that she, too, was concerned that cities, counties and the state will be forced to go to court every time someone cites a religious belief so he doesn't have to comply with a law.<br /><br />"It will cost them money that they don't have," Palumbo said.<br /><br />But Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington, said House Bill 279 was needed because religious freedoms were being curtailed in Kentucky.<br /><br />Prayer and the Bible have been taken out of schools, and people can no longer practice their faith in public, he said.<br /><br />"There have been attempts to take God out of everything," Lee said. "There have been attempts to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Can you believe that?"<br /><br />Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, said she still questions the motivations behind the bill. Lexington, Louisville, Covington and Vicco have local ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. State and federal civil rights laws do not protect people based on sexual orientation. Those local ordinances are the only protection for the gay, lesbian and transgender community, she and other opponents of the bill said.<br /><br />"I think this is about some way to get around the fairness ordinances," Stein said. It gives anyone opposed to them "a terrific, terrific defense," she said.<br /><br />The law's supporters deny that's the case.<br /><br />Delahanty said the law is needed in light of the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling last year that upheld a state law requiring the Amish to display bright orange safety triangles on their buggies so motorists could better see them.<br /><br />Several Amish men in rural Western Kentucky felt so strongly that displaying the triangles violated their religious belief against calling attention to themselves that they went to jail rather than comply with the law.<br /><br />"That high court ruling lowered the standard by which the state could infringe on the free exercise of religion," Delahanty said.<br /><br />Backers of the bill say 16 other states and the federal government have similar laws. Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, sponsor of HB 279, said those states have seen few if any court cases after a religious freedom bill is passed.<br /><br />A law professor at Wayne State University looked at 16 states with religious freedom laws and found that they have been a disappointment for those who have pushed for their passage.<br /><br />In the 2010 study, Christopher Lund, the article's author, found that four of those states reported no lawsuits. Six of those states reported two or fewer court cases where religious freedom was claimed as a defense. Moreover, the courts overwhelmingly sided against people who were using religious freedom as a defense, Lund's study said.<br /><br />But Stein, who is a lawyer, said that the law review articles on religious freedom bills did not look at the differences in wording of those state religious freedom laws. Kentucky's bill is broader and more vague than the federal religious freedom act passed in 1993, Beshear said when he vetoed HB 279.<br /><br />Stein also noted that many discrimination cases are not pursued in the courts or even with local human rights commissions.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" /></a></div>Just because there have not been legal cases doesn't mean that religion has not been used as a basis for discrimination in those 16 other states, she said.<br /><br /><b>Jordan Palmer, president of the Kentucky Equality Federation, said that the fairness group will be the first to challenge the law if the group receives a complaint</b>.<br /><br />"<i><b>Kentucky Equality Federation's legal department will sue the commonwealth of Kentucky with the first complaint we receive that House Bill 279 has been used to justify discrimination, termination, or school bullying regardless of sexual orientation or gender identit</b>y</i>," he said.<br /><br />Delahanty said he does not think the gay and lesbian community should be concerned about the new law.<br /><br />"I'm not suggesting that gay people are not looked down on in some quarters in America. I know the gay community has suffered enough, but this law does not do away with laws against discrimination," he said.<br /><br /><b>Text of religious freedom law</b><br />Government shall not substantially burden a person's freedom of religion. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be substantially burdened unless the government proves by clear and convincing evidence that it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A "burden" shall include indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities.<br /><br />Twitter: @BGPolitics. Blog: <a href="http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/" target="_blank">bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com</a><br /><br />Read more here: <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/30/2580631/kentuckys-religious-freedom-bill.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/30/2580631/kentuckys-religious-freedom-bill.html#storylink=cpy</a><br /><br />Read more here from the Lexington Herald-Leader and SUBSCRIBE; know what is happening in YOUR WORLD: <a href="http://www.subscribetohl.com/YourWay/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.subscribetohl.com/YourWay/index.html</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-53744069122527290532013-03-25T21:15:00.000-04:002013-04-22T21:34:09.402-04:00Kentucky Gov. Beshear vetoes religious freedom bill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" /></a></div><b>FRANKFORT, Ky. —</b> Gov. Steve Beshear vetoed a controversial religious-freedom bill Friday afternoon, saying the measure was well-intended but would spark costly taxpayer-funded court cases and bring an array of unintended consequences.<br /><br />"I have significant concerns that this bill will cause serious unintentional consequences that could threaten public safety, health care and individuals' civil rights," Beshear said in a statement. "As written, the bill will undoubtedly lead to costly litigation."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToJJmvu7jhQ/USm-zzZVcUI/AAAAAAAABNY/rfPR6nnHYe4/s1600/abc36-lexington.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToJJmvu7jhQ/USm-zzZVcUI/AAAAAAAABNY/rfPR6nnHYe4/s1600/abc36-lexington.png" /></a></div>House Bill 279 would allow someone with "sincerely held" religious beliefs to disregard state laws "unless the government proves by clear and convincing evidence that it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing" the person's religious freedom. Gay rights and human rights groups have said the bill could be used to challenge local anti-discrimination laws that protect gays and lesbians in Lexington, Louisville, Covington and Vicco.<br /><br />The sponsor of House Bill 279, Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, said he thinks he'll have the 51 votes required to override the veto if House leaders decide to take a vote. Damron said Beshear, a Democrat, did not ask him or Democratic House leaders to refrain from trying to override the bill during a conversation of more than an hour Friday in the governor's Capitol office.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7Nd9DD6syA/UXXhrYWOYbI/AAAAAAAABQY/-8AO1Wjuvho/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h7Nd9DD6syA/UXXhrYWOYbI/AAAAAAAABQY/-8AO1Wjuvho/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>In a written statement, Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said, "The Senate is prepared to override the veto of HB 279 if and when the speaker moves to do so. As a House bill, that chamber must act on the bill first."<br /><br />House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said in a statement that Democratic leaders "will be discussing what action to take with our caucus."<br /><br />The House passed the bill this month with only seven dissenting votes. The Republican-led Senate passed it 29-6.<br /><br />Lawmakers return to Frankfort on Monday for the final two days of the legislative session. Damron said there will be enough time to override the veto by midnight Tuesday.<br /><br />Conservative groups that backed the bill criticized Beshear on Friday.<br /><br />"It won't be comforting for many Kentuckians to know that the ACLU is now calling the shots in the governor's office," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation. "Religious people should not have to ask permission from the ACLU and gay rights groups to believe what they believe."<br /><br />Damron said the concerns of opponents are unfounded. Sixteen states have passed similar laws, but none of those states have seen a flood of lawsuits after the bills were passed, Damron said.<br /><br />But Beshear said in a news release that HB 279 is "fundamentally different" than related federal and state laws, "mostly because the vague language of HB 279 lends itself to overly broad applications."<br /><br />He said the bill offers no exceptions for certain state agencies or civil rights laws, or for the protection and safety of the general public.<br /><br />"Imprecise legal standards lead to unforeseen consequences," Beshear said. "Citizens and governmental entities are entitled to a clear understanding of the boundaries of permissible conduct. This bill, as written, while well-intended, is undermined by precarious legal wording."<br /><br />He said the bill had the potential to weaken local civil rights laws, affect curriculum standards in schools, hamper economic development efforts, hinder public health initiatives and undermine enforcement of drug laws.<br /><br />Beshear released a list of more than 50 groups that either opposed the bill or asked him to veto it. Those groups include the Kentucky Association of Counties, the Kentucky League of Cities, the Kentucky Education Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and a variety of gay rights organizations, sexual assault groups and fair housing groups.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" /></a></div>In addition, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and the Covington City Council asked Beshear to veto the bill. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, who is gay, came under criticism from some advocacy groups for not publicly asking Beshear to veto it.<br /><br />Gay rights groups applauded Beshear on Friday.<br /><br />"<i><b>Both Republicans and Democrats need to think carefully before deciding to override a veto since the governor and his legal staff has listened to both sides of the argument</b></i>," said Jordan Palmer, president of the Kentucky Equality Federation. "<i><b>Gov. Beshear is pushing Kentucky to once again be a leader in civil rights protection for minorities throughout the commonwealth by not infringing on their city equality ordinances in Covington, Lexington, Louisville and Vicco</b>.</i>"<br /><br />Read more here: <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/25/186805/kentucky-gov-beshear-vetoes-religious.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/25/186805/kentucky-gov-beshear-vetoes-religious.html#storylink=cpy</a><br /><br />Read more here from the Lexington Herald-Leader and SUBSCRIBE; know what is happening in YOUR WORLD: <a href="http://www.subscribetohl.com/YourWay/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.subscribetohl.com/YourWay/index.html</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-72780415483273833632013-02-24T02:22:00.000-05:002013-02-24T02:29:57.858-05:00Equality Rally Held In Frankfort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LQhqUvxUWY/TbUGVGpjePI/AAAAAAAAA5w/G_Bjaro-N4U/s1600/lex18-lexington-ky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LQhqUvxUWY/TbUGVGpjePI/AAAAAAAAA5w/G_Bjaro-N4U/s1600/lex18-lexington-ky.jpg" /></a></div>Lawmakers may not be in session this weekend but that doesn't mean the capitol is quiet.<br /><br />The Kentucky Equality Federation held a rally Saturday afternoon at the steps of the capitol building.<br /><br />They say they are marching for a statewide equality law and for equal rights for women.<br /><br />"We picked a Saturday just because we wanted people who work during the week, working families and students to be able to attend an event that they wanted to attend," says Jordan Palmer, with Kentucky Equality Federation.<br /><br /><object data="http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.5.swf" height="328" id="_player_6EB71365D671101168616D569C999F44" name="_player_6EB71365D671101168616D569C999F44" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.5.swf" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value='config={"key":"#@cd2924198dce1793492","logo":null,"playlist":"http%3A//www.lex18.com/videoplayer/playlist_rss.cfm%3Fcategories%3D174%26items%3D1%26video_id%3D32675%26cbplayer%3D0.44762395052380655","canvas":{"backgroundColor":"transparent","backgroundGradient":"none"},"screen":{"bottom":0},"clip":{"scaling":"fit","provider":"rtmp","autoPlay":true,"autoBuffering":false,"live":false},"plugins":{"controls":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.controls-3.2.3.swf","autoHide":"always","hideDelay":1000,"hideDuration":500,"backgroundColor":"#dedede","time":false,"height":24,"volumeSlider":"#737373","volumeSliderColor":"#2a8ce4","bufferColor":"#a3a3a3","buttonColor":"#737373","backgroundGradient":[0.9,0.5,0],"sliderBorder":"0px solid #ffffff","buttonOverColor":"#2a8ce4","timeBgColor":"#737373","scrubberBarHeightRatio":0.8,"sliderColor":"#737373","zIndex":1,"scrubberHeightRatio":0.6,"tooltipTextColor":"#ffffff","sliderGradient":"none","timeBgHeightRatio":0.8,"volumeSliderHeightRatio":0.6,"volumeBarHeightRatio":0.8,"tooltipColor":"#000000","durationColor":"#b8d9ff","progressColor":"#2a8ce4","timeBorder":"0px solid #ffffff","volumeBorder":"0px solid #ffffff"},"titlecontent":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.content-3.2.0.swf","bottom":24,"style":{"body":{"fontSize":12,"fontFamily":"arial","fontWeight":"bold","color":"#ffffff","textAlign":"left","margin":0,"padding":0},"*":{"margin":0,"padding":0}},"background":"#000000","backgroundGradient":[0,0,0],"opacity":0.9,"display":"none","border":"none","borderRadius":0,"padding":4,"width":"100pct","html":""},"rtmp":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.rtmp-3.2.3.swf","netConnectionUrl":"rtmp://hosting4.synapseip.tv/wlex/"},"rtmpInstream":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.rtmp-3.2.3.swf","netConnectionUrl":"rtmp://hosting4.synapseip.tv/wlex/"},"rtmpLive":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.rtmp-3.2.3.swf","netConnectionUrl":"rtmp://hosting4.synapseip.tv/wlexlive2/"},"rtmpInstreamLive":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.rtmp-3.2.3.swf","netConnectionUrl":"rtmp://hosting4.synapseip.tv/wlexlive2/"},"gatracker":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/flowplayer.analytics-3.2.1.swf","trackingMode":"AS3","googleId":"UA-10036014-1","debug":false},"ova":{"url":"http://www.lex18.com/videoplayer/swf/ova.swf","playOnce":false,"autoPlay":true,"debug":{"levels":"none"},"ads":{"activelySchedule":true,"setDurationFromMetaData":true,"forceImpressionServing":false,"disableControls":true,"allowAdRepetition":true,"servers":[{"oneAdPerRequest":true,"type":"direct","tag":"http%3A//ox-d.cordillera.tv/v/1.0/av%3Fpgid%3D11964","allowAdRepetition":true}],"schedule":[{"position":"pre-roll","allowAdRepetition":true,"server":{"type":"direct","tag":"http%3A//ox-d.cordillera.tv/v/1.0/av%3Fpgid%3D11964","allowAdRepetition":true}}]}}}}' /></object><br /><br /><b>News Link to Lex18:</b> <a href="http://www.lex18.com/news/equality-rally-held-in-frankfort/" target="_blank">http://www.lex18.com/news/equality-rally-held-in-frankfort/</a><br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-90676881557364917532013-02-24T02:18:00.002-05:002013-02-24T02:28:14.289-05:00Kentuckians Protest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToJJmvu7jhQ/USm-zzZVcUI/AAAAAAAABNY/rfPR6nnHYe4/s1600/abc36-lexington.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ToJJmvu7jhQ/USm-zzZVcUI/AAAAAAAABNY/rfPR6nnHYe4/s1600/abc36-lexington.png" /></a></div>Some Kentuckians rallied for women's rights today on the state capitol steps.<br /><br />They were protesting bills that would require women to have an ultrasound and meet with a physician before getting an abortion.<br /><br />They were showing support for two other bills that would add sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class under the Kentucky Civil Rights Act.<br /><br />The event was hosted by the "Kentuckians Against the War on Woman" and the Kentucky Equality Federation. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/embed/iframe?aspect_ratio=3x2&amp;auto_next=1&amp;auto_start=0&amp;page_count=25&amp;pf_id=10830&amp;pl_id=26402&amp;rel=3&amp;show_title=0&amp;tags=news_local&amp;va_id=3954477&amp;volume=8&amp;windows=1" width="425"></iframe><br /><br /><b>News Link: ABC 36: </b> <a href="http://www.wtvq.com/content/localnews/story/Kentuckians-Protest-War-On-Women/sIoT5Qimr0O1Uj6MySfU0g.cspx">http://www.wtvq.com/content/localnews/story/Kentuckians-Protest-War-On-Women/sIoT5Qimr0O1Uj6MySfU0g.cspx</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Frankfort, KY 40601, USA38.2009055 -84.87328350000001438.101071 -85.034645000000012 38.30074 -84.711922000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-72826355922905210302013-02-08T17:00:00.000-05:002013-03-06T01:43:36.367-05:00Logan schools asked to stop Gideons by Kentucky Equality Federation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5UT1QyqzomY/UTbkaQtUQYI/AAAAAAAABOI/zur7ZBsVvO0/s1600/newsdemocratleader225x90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5UT1QyqzomY/UTbkaQtUQYI/AAAAAAAABOI/zur7ZBsVvO0/s1600/newsdemocratleader225x90.jpg" /></a></div>An incident at the Auburn School in November has resulted in the Logan County School Board getting a “<a href="http://www.kyequality.org/2013/logan-county-cease.pdf" target="_blank">cease and desist</a>” letter from the Kentucky Equality Federation.<br /><br />The letter, which is dated Jan. 31, 2013, asks the school system to stop allowing Bibles to be handed out on school grounds.<br /><br />According to Logan County superintendent Marshall Kemp, the Gideons were at the Auburn school in November handing out Bibles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWxNFHdff0Q/TJ6-mzpCnYI/AAAAAAAAAvs/x0vM29DniYE/s1600/wkbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWxNFHdff0Q/TJ6-mzpCnYI/AAAAAAAAAvs/x0vM29DniYE/s1600/wkbo.jpg" /></a></div>“The Gideons have given Bibles out for a very long time in our schools,” Kemp said. “The proper way is on a voluntary basis, where they put the Bibles on a table and if a child wants it, they can pick it up.”<br /><br />Kemp said that it was legal for the group to come to a school, set up a table with Bibles on it and allow them to be handed out passively to any student that wishes to take one.<br /><br />“It wasn’t done that way at Auburn,” Kemp said. “One was handed to each child.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D2UWg-hf6oA/TJ9yGg8K8BI/AAAAAAAAAwg/TtzOVP3okyo/s1600/proud-parenting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D2UWg-hf6oA/TJ9yGg8K8BI/AAAAAAAAAwg/TtzOVP3okyo/s1600/proud-parenting.jpg" /></a></div>A parent, referred to only as “Ms. Alms” in the cease and desist letter, then apparently contacted the Kentucky Equality Federation about the incident.<br /><br />“I believe in God and I know God loves all people. I am a practicing Christian, and I also practice Taoism. However, a public school is not the proper venue to distribute religious materials of any type,” Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer said in a news release. “This practice will cease immediately or I will instruct our legal department to sue the Logan County School District. I will teach my children about religion at home. We again are notifying the Kentucky Department of Education and the Office of Kentucky Education Secretary, Mr. Joseph U. Meyer.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>According to its website, the Kentucky Equality Federation is, “Kentucky’s largest all-volunteer grassroots lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (“LGBTI”) civil rights and advocacy organization for both social and political equality. Kentucky Equality Federation is a diverse organization consisting of several corporations and groups with a common cause for Peace, Liberty, and Equality for All.”<br /><br />Kemp said this was the first time anyone had complained about the Gideons giving away Bibles in the school system.<br /><br />Kemp said that in the past, he has sent out information to principals about the correct way of allowing the Bibles to be distributed.<br /><br />“I don’t remember exactly when I did that, though, and some of our newer principals may not have gotten that,” Kemp said.<br /><br />Kemp said as far as he knows, the Gideons have not requested to hand out Bibles in the Logan County schools since the November incident.<br /><br />“Not to my knowledge - no one has told me if they have,” Kemp said. “They don’t ask me in the first place, though. They ask the principals and the principals are supposed to know how to handle it so that this sort of things doesn’t happen.”<br /><br />Kemp said he was unsure what the school system would do going forward.<br /><br />He said that the matter could be left up to the individual schools’ site-based decision making councils - or the school board may make a policy for the entire district.<br /><br /><b>Read more:</b> <a href="http://www.newsdemocratleader.com/view/full_story/21608644/article-Logan-schools-asked-to-stop-Gideons" target="_blank">News Democrat Leader - Logan schools asked to stop Gideons</a> (<b><a href="http://www.newsdemocratleader.com/pages/subscription_forms" target="_blank">Subscribe to the News Democrat Leader</a></b>)<br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Logan, KY, USA36.869834 -86.862182736.4632705 -87.50762970000001 37.276397499999995 -86.2167357tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-20189050585216178132013-02-01T18:00:00.000-05:002013-03-06T01:54:30.422-05:00An Organization is Urging Logan County Schools to Stop Alleged Distribution of Bibles in School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWxNFHdff0Q/TJ6-mzpCnYI/AAAAAAAAAvs/x0vM29DniYE/s1600/wkbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWxNFHdff0Q/TJ6-mzpCnYI/AAAAAAAAAvs/x0vM29DniYE/s1600/wkbo.jpg" /></a></div>It was at Auburn Elementary where one parent claims a small red Gideon's bible sparked controversy.<br /><br />"In November, my son came home with a red Gideon Bible that he says was brought into his classroom by a man with a box, and the students were told if they wanted to accept it, they could come up to the front of the class and accept it," said concerned parent Heather Alms.<br /><br />Alms says this puts young students in a compromising position.<br /><br />"That puts that 10-year-old in a position where they have to choose whether or not to go up to the front of the class and take a Bible, that their family may not practice. They may not read that Bible," said Alms.<br /><br />That's a position she says no child should be left in.<br /><br />"It's not about religion, it's about providing an opportunity to learn in a safe environment where children are not isolated or ostracized due to cultural differences," said Alms.<br /><br />Kentucky Equality Federation it's a legal issue. Palmer says the distribution of religious material in a public school violates section 5 of the Kentucky Constitution.<br /><br />"First of all, that's not legal or constitutional, but even if it were, if they can legally hand out one religious publication, then they can also hand out other religious publications." "Our order to them was to cease and desist immediately the distribution of, or permitting the distribution of any religious material in any manner to any student in the school district," said Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.<br /><br />This request came after Alms notified the Kentucky Equality Federation of her concerns.<br /><br />Palmer says now they are awaiting a response from Logan County Schools and will take further legal action if their requests are not met.<br /><br />The superintendent of Logan County Schools declined to comment, other than to say they are working with the school board's attorney to evaluate their options, and plan to respond to the Kentucky Equality Federation with their decision soon.<br /><br /><b>News link:</b>&nbsp; <a href="http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Kentucky-Equality-Federation-Orders-Cease-and-Desist-to-Logan-County-Schools-189430751.html" target="_blank">WBKO</a><br /><br /><b>Watch:</b> <a href="http://www.wbko.com/news" target="_blank">WBKO</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Bowling Green, KY, USA36.9903199 -86.4436018000000136.787348900000005 -86.7663253 37.1932909 -86.120878300000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-15046935179093711202013-01-16T13:28:00.000-05:002013-01-24T04:03:17.887-05:00Tiny Appalachian city enacts gay rights ordinanceWritten by AP reports and Advocate.com<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" /></a></div>A tiny city in southeastern Kentucky has enacted an LGBT rights ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The city commission of Vicco in southern Perry County passed the new law on Jan. 14. The population, according to the last census, is 334 people.<br /><br />Three of four commissioners voted in favor of the ordinance, which bans discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations in the city. City attorney Eric Ashley says the community believes all people should be treated fairly.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EYaBFF_8uuI/UPrlpewJssI/AAAAAAAABLs/wo9Hyrxf1P4/s1600/wisconsin-gazette-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EYaBFF_8uuI/UPrlpewJssI/AAAAAAAABLs/wo9Hyrxf1P4/s1600/wisconsin-gazette-logo.png" /></a></div>Meanwhile, an effort to pass an LGBT civil rights law at the state level has stalled in Kentucky House of Representatives.<br /><br />"The commonwealth of Kentucky was the first state south of the Mason-Dixon line to pass a civil rights act, the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation president Jordan Palmer. “The Kentucky Civil Rights Act was signed into law by Gov. Edward T. Breathitt, and prohibits discrimination and protects people from discrimination based on race, national origin, color and religion."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>Since then, the civil rights law has been amended and expanded, but repeated efforts to include sexual orientation and gender identity failed.<br /><br />Palmer said, "I urge the commonwealth’s lawmakers to willfully place Kentucky back in the forefront of civil rights… .If our lawmakers want to show Kentucky sovereignty and freedom, do it now before the order to do so is handed down by the courts."<br /><br /><b>Complete News Link:</b> <a href="http://www.wisconsingazette.com/national-gaze/tiny-appalachian-city-enacts-gay-rights-ordinance.html">http://www.wisconsingazette.com/national-gaze/tiny-appalachian-city-enacts-gay-rights-ordinance.html</a><br /><br /><b>Complete News Link:</b>&nbsp; <a href="http://lezgetreal.com/2013/01/ky-equality-federation-starts-petition-to-change-state-civil-rights-act/" target="_blank">http://lezgetreal.com/2013/01/ky-equality-federation-starts-petition-to-change-state-civil-rights-act/ </a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Vicco, KY, USA37.2156521 -83.0615548000000137.1903616 -83.10189530000001 37.2409426 -83.021214300000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-71952589441808906972013-01-15T13:36:00.000-05:002013-01-19T13:56:52.048-05:00Paducah middle school receives high marks for responding to school bullyingBy Amber Ruch, <a href="http://mccracken.kfvs12.com/news/news/60775-paducah-middle-school-receives-high-marks-responding-school-bullying" target="_blank">KFVS12</a><br />By Lez Get Real<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vjhjO5pQuQE/UPrnQkfj2tI/AAAAAAAABL8/WUVZiN5o5LY/s1600/mccracken-co-430x84_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vjhjO5pQuQE/UPrnQkfj2tI/AAAAAAAABL8/WUVZiN5o5LY/s1600/mccracken-co-430x84_1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>KFVS - CBS Affiliate</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><b>MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) -</b> Kentucky Equality Federation officials recently contacted Paducah Middle School about bullying complaints.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>According to KEF, the complaint was pulled from the School Bullying Committee and handled directly by KEF President Jordan Palmer and Attorney Jillian Hall, vice president of legal due to the severity of one of the complaints. They say that complaint was a child saying she was considering suicide.<br /><br />For a copy of the letter Kentucky Equality Federation sent to the school, you can click here.<br /><br />"School officials immediately responded and took swift action," said Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. "We cannot stress enough the impact school bullying has on the Commonwealth's youth and sincerely thank Paducah Middle School, from the school attorney, school principal, guidance counselors, and other members of the school in administration for their immediate action. Paducah Middle School should be a model to the rest of the schools in the Commonwealth for their swift action and immediate response. It is possible a life was saved due to their immediate response to our letter.”<br /><br />Palmer continued: "Regardless of the circumstances, children need to know they can go to school officials with bullying. It must be reported to the principal who must then report it to the County Attorney for investigation. The attitude to enforce Kentucky law however is set from the principal down and we again applaud Principal Tim Huddleston, Paducah Middle School's faculty and staff, and their legal representation, Mark Whitlow, an outstanding individual."<br /><br /><b>Complete News Link:</b> <a href="http://mccracken.kfvs12.com/news/news/60775-paducah-middle-school-receives-high-marks-responding-school-bullying">http://mccracken.kfvs12.com/news/news/60775-paducah-middle-school-receives-high-marks-responding-school-bullying</a><br /><br /><b>Complete News Link:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://lezgetreal.com/2013/01/after-lgbt-group-gets-involved-paducah-schools-tackle-bullying-problem/" target="_blank">http://lezgetreal.com/2013/01/after-lgbt-group-gets-involved-paducah-schools-tackle-bullying-problem/</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com0Paducah, KY, USA37.0833893 -88.6000477999999736.9820333 -88.761409299999968 37.1847453 -88.438686299999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-56078788120682419192012-11-28T13:42:00.000-05:002013-01-19T14:06:13.756-05:00Teacher Writes ‘You Can’t Be A Democrat & Go To Heaven’ On Chalkboard<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eydD0vemPaI/UPrp63CXvoI/AAAAAAAABMM/XwYELnn2U3w/s1600/cbs_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eydD0vemPaI/UPrp63CXvoI/AAAAAAAABMM/XwYELnn2U3w/s1600/cbs_logo.jpg" /></a><b>LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (CBS) –</b> A complaint has been filed against a teacher accused of writing anti-Democrat rhetoric on her classroom chalkboard.<br /><br />“You can't be a Democrat &amp; go to heaven,” the board of South Laurel High School teacher Kendra Baker read earlier this month, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.<br /><br />The message reportedly went up one week after the Nov. 6 presidential elections.<br /><br />Mother Mary Gilbert, whose daughter Chelsea is in Baker’s psychology class, told the paper that she filed a formal complaint with the state’s Education Professional Standards Board.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>"I feel like she was bullied by a teacher," she explained.<br /><br />Doug Bennett, the superintendent for Laurel County schools, said the school addressed the issue with the teacher directly, though he declined to confirm Baker’s name or extrapolate on the consequences of her actions.<br /><br />"She realizes it's inappropriate," he told the paper of their conversation with the teacher.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TrKFo8rOYw/TJ66jUP_xaI/AAAAAAAAAvo/NDRnS0Z-2Xw/s1600/csm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0TrKFo8rOYw/TJ66jUP_xaI/AAAAAAAAAvo/NDRnS0Z-2Xw/s1600/csm.jpg" /></a></div>According to the Kansas City Star, Baker also apologized to Chelsea, but added that she thought Chelsea could take a joke.<br /><br />Gilbert is reportedly dissatisfied with the outcome, as Baker is reportedly still in the classroom.<br /><br />Chelsea Gilbert – who told the Herald-Leader that she supported President Obama – additionally claimed that Baker made comments in class about same-sex marriage. She said she told Baker that she was offending students in the class, some of whom are gay. According to the Star, the exchange brought Chelsea to tears.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" /></a></div>Following the incidents, Gilbert removed her daughter from the school, and will teach her from home for the remainder of her senior year, the Star additionally learned.<br /><br />"She's going to miss a lot," Gilbert noted.<br /><br />The Kentucky Equality Federation, a gay rights and equality group in the state, released a statement blasting Baker's actions.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrepHURSTw/TJ9ZoycfWNI/AAAAAAAAAwA/UZN5WIOeIEs/s1600/lexington.jpg" /></a></div>"The School Superintendent reprimanded the Laurel County teacher, citing that she broke with policy regarding the environment of the classroom and we thank Superintendent Doug Bennett for his swift action," KEF president Jordan Palmer was quoted as saying in a press release on the organization's website. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" /></a></div>"Kentucky Equality Federation contends the objective of such a message was to scare children into thinking a certain ideology by damaging the thought process, scaring the Commonwealth’s youth, introducing partisan politics in the classroom, imposing one-sided views on the classroom and generally directing the students into confined thinking."<br /><br />Palmer added, "Regardless of the origin of the statement, the teacher had the greater responsibility to remain objective."<br /><br /><b>Complete News Story:</b> <a href="http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2012/11/28/teacher-writes-you-cant-be-a-democrat-go-to-heaven-on-chalkboard/">http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2012/11/28/teacher-writes-you-cant-be-a-democrat-go-to-heaven-on-chalkboard/</a><br /><br /><b>Complete News Story:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2012/11/26/2422193/complaint-filed-against-kentucky.html" target="_blank">http://www.kentucky.com/2012/11/26/2422193/complaint-filed-against-kentucky.html</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com0London, KY, USA37.1289771 -84.083264637.0276811 -84.2446261 37.2302731 -83.921903100000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-14920037162726862162012-11-21T14:00:00.000-05:002013-01-19T14:02:45.166-05:00Kentucky Equality Federation Stops School District Distributing BiblesThe Kentucky Equality Federation has stopped Bibles being given to middle school students in Grant County after the group was contacted by several parents who objected to it. Melissa Altman, one of the parents who contacted the group, stated that “My son was called out of his classroom and asked by men in business suits if they knew of the New Testament and were given Bibles. There is a time and place for this to occur, a public school is not [one of them]. I am a science major; I don’t believe every parent would appreciate me passing out copies of the ‘God Delusion’ written by Richard Dawkins to their children.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>KEF’s Jordan Palmer issued a warning to Grant County Schools’ Superintendent Ron Livingood stating that “This directly violates Kentucky laws and Kentucky Supreme Court decisions regarding the separation of Church and State. These people came into a school owned and funded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This action will cease immediately.”<br /><br />Brandon Combs, the chairman of the Board of KEF stated that “In this situation, it is hard to gauge which occurrence is less acceptable; the allowance of Bibles to be passed out at a public school in violation of Kentucky law and past judicial precedent, or Superintendent Ron Livingood’s disregard for these same laws. Mr. Livingood has allowed for these individuals on school property to speak with students without proper authorization by parents and in violation of Kentucky law. At this point, the Kentucky Department of Education needs to step forward and take action to ensure all Grant County students are receiving equitable, safe, and high quality education within the confines of our legal system or we will take legal action.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvA1t6Ejs4w/T9BNV4Lo8CI/AAAAAAAABDY/8ISHBCK-PLE/s1600/life-site-news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvA1t6Ejs4w/T9BNV4Lo8CI/AAAAAAAABDY/8ISHBCK-PLE/s1600/life-site-news.jpg" /></a></div>KEF went on to explain that:<br /><br />Kentucky Equality Federation’s Religious Outreach Director, Minister Edith Baker, Ph.D. stated: “Here is the foundation of this matter; if Christians are ‘allowed to pass out Bibles,’ then all other religion and non religious groups, including the ‘Church of Satan’ will have this right. As a Christian believer since childhood, and an ordained minister, I believe we have enough homes, churches and other public venues to provide this service.”<br /><br />However, at press time, only minutes after emailing Grant Count Superintendent Ron Livingood, legal representation for Grant County Schools, Don Ruberg, with the Law Offices of O’Hara, Ruberg, Taylor, Sloan &amp; Sergent in Covington called Kentucky Equality Federation’s toll-free number indicating that the school had stopped, on the advice of counsel, the practice of allowing Bibles to be distributed on school property.<br /><br />“On this one issue, we are all pleased that we could work together without the need for legal action,” stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. “Kentucky Equality Federation serves as public advocate for all citizens of the Commonwealth who suffer from discrimination, hate crimes, school bullying, or any other danger to our freedoms. I am a practicing Christian; I also practice the principles of Taoism. We all have our own religious beliefs and a public school is not the venue for religion.”<br /><br />In a response to Kentucky Equality Federation, the parent responded: “Thank you so much for everything you do and standing up for everyone’s rights, Altman stated. “You work fast I contacted the right person thank you so very much. Wow! I could never have gotten anything done myself, thank you.”<br /><br />Kentucky Equality Federation’s Vice President of Legal, Attorney Jillian Hall had no comment after the situation was diffused, nor did Kentucky Equality Federation’s other attorneys.<br /><br /><b>Complete News Link: </b><a href="http://lezgetreal.com/2012/11/ky-equality-federation-stops-school-district-distributing-bibles/">http://lezgetreal.com/2012/11/ky-equality-federation-stops-school-district-distributing-bibles/</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com0Williamstown, KY, USA38.6381245 -84.56049769999998538.538900500000004 -84.721859199999983 38.7373485 -84.399136199999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-63127985911571024392012-10-16T15:22:00.000-04:002012-11-08T15:25:03.140-05:00The Kentucky Equality Federation drafted the lawsuit on behalf of Milam; a gay ex-inmate at Warren County Jail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BpzFCEgE_2Y/UGEtrKtApVI/AAAAAAAABGY/V6pajtbapjA/s1600/bowling-green-the-daily-news.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BpzFCEgE_2Y/UGEtrKtApVI/AAAAAAAABGY/V6pajtbapjA/s1600/bowling-green-the-daily-news.gif" /></a></div>Brandon Milam, an openly gay former inmate of the Warren County Regional Jail, is expected to file a lawsuit today in Warren Circuit Court against the jail, Warren County, Jailer Jackie Strode and inmate Timothy Michael Schwartz.<br /><br />Milam told the Daily News last month that he believes homophobia motivated a jailhouse assault that caused Milam to lose a portion of his nose in July.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W6rCiYOgIw/UArxoJ7xcOI/AAAAAAAABEs/p-T29Y1SJCc/s1600/14news.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W6rCiYOgIw/UArxoJ7xcOI/AAAAAAAABEs/p-T29Y1SJCc/s1600/14news.gif" /></a></div>Minutes after teaching a group of other inmates how to play the card game hearts, Milam, 26, was sitting on the bottom bunk of the bed in his jail cell when another inmate who lost the game shouted gay slurs before assaulting him July 2, Milam said in September.<br /><br />That inmate, Schwartz, 41, of Scottsville, is accused of biting off a portion of Milam’s nose, according to court records. A grand jury indicted Schwartz in July on a first-degree assault charge. Schwartz pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for a pretrial conference at 1 p.m. Dec. 3.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>The Kentucky Equality Federation, a public advocacy organization for victims of discrimination, hate crimes and school bullying, publicly condemned the incident last month and drafted the lawsuit on Milam’s behalf. On Monday, the federation provided the newspaper with a copy of the lawsuit the organization plans to file. The suit couldn’t be filed Monday due to a furlough day for state judicial workers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PW749NB_u-Y/T7gP8YT2y1I/AAAAAAAABCE/i3VaG-RWPZ0/s1600/lgbtq-265.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PW749NB_u-Y/T7gP8YT2y1I/AAAAAAAABCE/i3VaG-RWPZ0/s1600/lgbtq-265.png" /></a></div>“We haven’t been served yet. Until the county is properly served, I don’t feel comfortable making a comment,” Warren County Attorney Amy Milliken said, speaking on behalf of both the county and the county jail.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" /></a></div>In September, Milam told the Daily News he would need four surgical procedures to repair his nose, with the first estimated to cost $26,000.<br /><br />Milam is no longer answering questions from the media, said Jordan Palmer, the federation’s president. “He is embarrassed to be seen in public,” Palmer said. “At this point, he is just hoping that this will be resolved quickly so that he can have this reconstructive surgery.”<br /><br />The lawsuit alleges that the jail failed to protect Milam from harm by allowing him to remain in a protective custody cell with other inmates who are prejudiced against homosexuals. It further alleges negligence and “intentional infliction of emotional distress and outrageous conduct,” jailer’s breach of duty and common law bad faith and breach of fiduciary duty.<br /><br />“He has lost his sense of smell,” Palmer said. “He is still awaiting reconstructive surgery” and is undergoing therapy to cope with the nightmares about the attack. Milam is asking in his lawsuit for a jury trial, compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees and interest.<br /><br />At the time of the incident. Milam was serving time for a probation violation before being released to home incarceration July 10, he said.<br /><br />Schwartz, who remains in jail, faces charges in a separate case of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $10,000 or greater, devising or engaging in a scheme to defraud the Kentucky Medical Assistance Program of $300 or more and five counts of third-degree forgery.<br /><br /><b>READ MORE:</b> <a href="http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/openly-gay-ex-inmate-is-expected-to-sue-jail/article_44718dae-17ae-11e2-8dd1-0019bb2963f4.html" target="_blank">http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/openly-gay-ex-inmate-is-expected-to-sue-jail/article_44718dae-17ae-11e2-8dd1-0019bb2963f4.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bgdailynews.com/site/services/" target="_blank"><b>Subscribe to the Bowling Green's The Daily News!</b></a><br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com0Bowling Green, KY, USA36.9903199 -86.443601836.888857900000005 -86.6015303 37.0917819 -86.2856733tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-25249956541328450652012-10-16T15:11:00.000-04:002012-11-08T15:13:28.344-05:00Gay man sues Kentucky jail, says part of his nose was bitten off by inmate harassing him<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GnROxgtQ7ys/UJwRS-bHQYI/AAAAAAAABIw/4R-KjrL-2Io/s1600/brandon-milam.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GnROxgtQ7ys/UJwRS-bHQYI/AAAAAAAABIw/4R-KjrL-2Io/s1600/brandon-milam.gif" /></a></div>An incarcerated gay man sued a southern Kentucky jail and a fellow inmate Tuesday, claiming the prisoner bit off part of his nose after days of harassment.<br /><br />Brandon Milam said he was disfigured, lost his sense of smell and was still in pain from the July attack in the Warren County Regional Jail, according to his lawsuit.<br /><br />Milam claims Timothy Schwartz and other inmates used gay slurs and threatened him for about a week before Schwartz bit off part of his nose and then spit the piece of flesh onto the floor.<br /><br />The severed piece was found by another inmate. Doctors at a hospital in Nashville, Tenn., tried to reattach it but were unsuccessful, the lawsuit said.<br /><br />"It's a real tragedy that this would happen in a protective custody setting, this outrageously violent act," M. Austin Mehr, one of Milam's attorneys, said this week. "It was just like an animal."<br /><br />Milam, 26, faces a series of reconstructive surgeries that will cost tens of thousands of dollars, Mehr said.<br /><br />The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for pain, suffering and medical expenses.<br /><br />Schwartz was indicted on an assault charge and has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Walter Hawkins, did not immediately return a call.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULBTbwlFp7U/TbT0kIGz1LI/AAAAAAAAA5c/uSYaOmnmqa0/s1600/logo.gif" /></a></div>Schwartz was in jail for an alleged scheme to forge signatures of family members of disabled people, file false Medicaid claims and charge Medicaid for services not provided, according to The Daily News in Bowling Green. He is still being held in the same jail.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1Gl2KLAksM/TbT0GH8k_HI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/tuJYhzhdV7c/s1600/kentucky-equality-federation-the-republic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1Gl2KLAksM/TbT0GH8k_HI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/tuJYhzhdV7c/s1600/kentucky-equality-federation-the-republic.jpg" /></a></div>Milam was jailed for violating his probation for a guilty plea to felony theft, the suit said. The jail and its top official, Jailer Jackie Strode, were aware Milam was gay but placed him in a single cell with about 14 other men, the suit said.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DOU14HPjg/TdnYWEJ41kI/AAAAAAAAA6E/b1i2_gjUUXY/s1600/courier-journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5DOU14HPjg/TdnYWEJ41kI/AAAAAAAAA6E/b1i2_gjUUXY/s1600/courier-journal.jpg" /></a></div>Strode did not immediately return a call Tuesday.<br /><br />Defendants in the suit include the jail, its top official, the county and Schwartz.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qNyvpb6_xH8/TJ9ZDXHw5jI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MLJrbOacB_I/s1600/logo_kentucky.gif" /></a></div>The suit accused the jail and jailer of breach of duty and negligence.<br /><br />Warren County Attorney Amy Milliken declined immediate comment, saying she had not yet seen the lawsuit.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVVRaQaOnI0/TbT1z7EhbQI/AAAAAAAAA5g/pfVNGA9ZhdY/s1600/fox19-kentucky-equality-federation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVVRaQaOnI0/TbT1z7EhbQI/AAAAAAAAA5g/pfVNGA9ZhdY/s1600/fox19-kentucky-equality-federation.jpg" /></a></div>Milam was attacked while sitting on his bed, the suit said. Schwartz pinned Milam against the wall and punched him in the face, then bit off part of Milam's nose, according to the lawsuit.<br /><br />Bartley Hagerman, another attorney for Milam, said jail guards were slow to respond.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_MIkCnlOUQ/TbT3YzRn7HI/AAAAAAAAA5k/3ZTICdJOiNI/s1600/fox41-louisville-kentucky-equality-federation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_MIkCnlOUQ/TbT3YzRn7HI/AAAAAAAAA5k/3ZTICdJOiNI/s1600/fox41-louisville-kentucky-equality-federation.jpg" /></a></div>"You would think with all of the commotion they would have gotten there quicker," Hagerman said.<br /><br />Milam has since been placed on house arrest, Mehr said.<br /><br />Kentucky Equality Federation, a gay rights and civil rights group that has offered assistance to Milam, has urged federal authorities to pursue a case against Schwartz as a hate crime.<br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com2Bowling Green, KY, USA36.9903199 -86.443601836.888857900000005 -86.6015303 37.0917819 -86.2856733tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-39227877982964703902012-09-13T10:00:00.000-04:002012-09-25T00:07:56.068-04:00Kentucky Gay Ex-inmate: Homophobia fueled assault<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BpzFCEgE_2Y/UGEtrKtApVI/AAAAAAAABGY/V6pajtbapjA/s1600/bowling-green-the-daily-news.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BpzFCEgE_2Y/UGEtrKtApVI/AAAAAAAABGY/V6pajtbapjA/s1600/bowling-green-the-daily-news.gif" /></a></div><b>The Daily News</b><br /><br /><b>Bowling Green -</b> Brandon Milam, an openly gay former inmate of the Warren County Regional Jail, says hatred was the motivation for an assault he suffered at the jail in July.<br /><br />Minutes after teaching a group of other inmates how to play the card game hearts, Milam, 26, was sitting on the bottom bunk of his jail cell when another inmate who lost the game shouted gay slurs before assaulting him July 2, Milam said.<br /><br />That inmate, Timothy Michael Schwartz, 41, of Scottsville, is accused of biting off a portion of Milam’s nose, according to court records. A grand jury indicted Schwartz in July on a first-degree assault charge. Schwartz has pleaded not guilty.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvaHBXfsCmA/UGEtDXDY5kI/AAAAAAAABGQ/cSUVbnhhAvg/s1600/Brandon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvaHBXfsCmA/UGEtDXDY5kI/AAAAAAAABGQ/cSUVbnhhAvg/s200/Brandon.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Kentucky Equality Federation, a public advocacy organization for victims of discrimination, hate crimes and school bullying, publicly condemned the incident in a news release Wednesday. The organization is calling on prosecutors to pursue the case against Schwartz as a hate crime and has agreed to provide legal assistance to Milam to help him obtain through the legal system the money he will need for multiple reconstructive surgeries to repair his nose, according to Jordan Palmer, the organization’s president.<br /><br />“I just want my medical bills paid for,” Milam said. “I want to get all of this behind me.”<br /><br />Milam anticipates needing four surgical procedures to repair his nose, with the first estimated to cost $26,000.<br /><br />Jailer Jackie Strode turned over the jail’s investigative information on the incident to FBI Agent Mike Brown. Citing the ongoing investigation, Strode declined to comment.<br /><br />Mary Trotman, chief division counsel for the FBI’s Louisville division, said her agency “cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.” Brown told Milam that the FBI is not pursuing federal prosecution of the case, Milam said.<br /><br />“The assault investigation is ongoing,” Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron said. “I cannot comment further.”<br /><br />Milam said he has not spoken to Cohron about the case. However, “he will be contacted like all other alleged victims are during the course of the litigation,” Cohron said. Milam said Wednesday that he was in a protective custody cell at the jail when his nose was injured. Strode declined to confirm what type of cell Milam was being held in at the time of the injury.<br /><br />However, it is the jail’s procedure to offer single person or protective custody cells to anyone entering the jail who fears for his or her safety, Strode said. “When people say that their life is in danger, you are going to find out why, and you are going to act accordingly,” Strode said.<br /><br />Milam was serving time for a probation violation before being released to home incarceration July 10, he said.<br /><br />Schwartz, who is still in jail, faces charges in a separate case of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $10,000 or greater, devising or engaging in a scheme to defraud the Kentucky Medical Assistance Program of $300 or more and five counts of third-degree forgery.<br /><br />In an email exchange between Palmer and Strode, Palmer asked Strode who is going to pay for Milam’s medical bills. Strode responded writing to Palmer, "Brandon Milan (sic) was a State Inmate who was released by the Dept. of Corrections. You may discuss that issue with them."<br /><br />“He was a state inmate, and when they are state inmate, the state pays for their medical care,” Warren County Attorney Amy Milliken said. “No demand has been made on the county that I know of. Under normal circumstances when a demand is made on a jail issue, that is then referred to the Kentucky Association of Counties because they are our insurance provider.”<br /><br />The federation maintains that inmates have a presumption of safety while incarcerated.<br /><br />"The deliberate indifference that the jail facility seemed to maintain when placing Mr. Milam in the cell with the attackers while being aware of his sexual orientation opens them to civil liability," Jillian Hall, vice president of legal at the federation, said in a release.<br /><br />"Having an uncaring attitude towards LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex) inmates, as well as their fundamental human rights and dignity, appears to be a growing trend across the commonwealth’s county jailers." Palmer said in a prepared statement.<br /><br /><b>READ MORE:</b> &nbsp;<a href="http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/ex-inmate-homophobia-fueled-assault/article_fcaf8dea-fdbd-11e1-9a77-0019bb2963f4.html">http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/ex-inmate-homophobia-fueled-assault/article_fcaf8dea-fdbd-11e1-9a77-0019bb2963f4.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bgdailynews.com/site/services/" target="_blank"><b>Subscribe to the Bowling Green's The Daily News!</b></a><br /><br /><b>Read Comments on The Daily News (Bowling Green): </b>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/ex-inmate-homophobia-fueled-assault/article_fcaf8dea-fdbd-11e1-9a77-0019bb2963f4.html">http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local/ex-inmate-homophobia-fueled-assault/article_fcaf8dea-fdbd-11e1-9a77-0019bb2963f4.html</a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com0Bowling Green, KY, USA36.9903199 -86.443601836.888857900000005 -86.6015303 37.0917819 -86.2856733tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-47517576725937182702012-07-30T10:35:00.000-04:002014-08-21T10:39:24.033-04:00Equality Leader Jordan Palmer Named to Honorable Order<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mfDAdhdy3I/T9BNQdVmrKI/AAAAAAAABDQ/dE8TSISVvFM/s1600/lezgetreal_larger3.jpg" /></a></div>Being named a member of the Honorable Kentucky Order of Colonels is akin to receiving a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. It is an honorary title bestowed upon those who do great service for the community. Jordan Palmer, head of the LGBT group Kentucky Equality Federation, has been named to this Order by Governor Steve Beshear.<br /><br />Palmer was nominated by senior Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo, chair of the House Standing Committee on Economic Development, senior Representative Tom Burch, chair of the House Standing Committee on Health &amp; Welfare, and attorney Jill Hall Rose, former Law Clerk for the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PW749NB_u-Y/T7gP8YT2y1I/AAAAAAAABCE/i3VaG-RWPZ0/s1600/lgbtq-265.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PW749NB_u-Y/T7gP8YT2y1I/AAAAAAAABCE/i3VaG-RWPZ0/s1600/lgbtq-265.png" /></a></div>Perhaps the most famous Kentucky Colonel was Colonel Harland Sanders, best known for creating Kentucky Fried Chicken.<br /><br />Rose stated that “I have known Mr. Palmer for over 10 yrs. and found him to be a tireless passionate advocate for equality and civil liberties across the commonwealth of Kentucky. Through the nonprofit organization he co-founded, Kentucky Equality Federation, he has successfully lobbied at both the State and Federal level for fair treatment of for all people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. His specific work on hate crimes has brought these serious issues into the spotlight. Kentucky is fortunate to have such an outstanding individual working for us.”<br /><br />Rep Palumbo added that “Jordan Palmer is a dear friend and outstanding Kentuckian. I was honored to nominate him to be a Kentucky Colonel, the highest award given by the commonwealth of Kentucky. Mr. Palmer works very hard for equality.”<br /><br />Representative Burch described Palmer as being a compassionate advocate of equality and a role model for the community.<br /><br />KEF Press Secretary David Jones said “From Mr. Palmer protesting Governor Fletcher and later Representative Fischer (twice, click here the second protest) for saying ‘ gays had not suffered enough,’ sponsoring a Soulforce Equality Ride at the University of the Cumberlands for kicking out a gay student, forcing school boards to allow Gay-Straight Alliances, rallying at Northern Kentucky University and the city of Hazard, FORCING policy changes, organizing Kentucky’s 1st Gay Marriage License Day, assisting in restoring the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program (KADAP) to successfully pushing the first federal hate crime, Mr. Palmer’s place in Kentucky history is secure.”<br /><br />For his part Colonel Palmer said upon receiving the honor that “I am honored to receive the commission and will continue the work I do across Kentucky. I am honored Governor Beshear commissioned a LGBTI civil rights leader and humbled by the wonderful people who nominated me. I have always been fascinated by titles of honor, from Colonel to Companion and Knight in other countries. It is an award in recognition of a person’s deeds and merits. I plan to join the Honorable Order of the Colonels because I think the work they do is important, but not recognized as much as it should be.”<br /><br />Read more at Lez Get Real: <a href="http://lezgetreal.com/2013/07/kentucky-lgbt-activist-jordan-palmer-named-a-colonel/" target="_blank">http://lezgetreal.com/2013/07/kentucky-lgbt-activist-jordan-palmer-named-a-colonel/</a><br /><br />- See more at: <a href="http://unitedwestandky.com/2013/07/equality-leader-jordan-palmer-named-to-honorable-order/#sthash.8PWqDLG8.dpuf" target="_blank">http://unitedwestandky.com/2013/07/equality-leader-jordan-palmer-named-to-honorable-order/#sthash.8PWqDLG8.dpuf</a><br /><br />Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Frankfort, KY 40601, USA38.2009055 -84.87328350000001438.101071 -85.034645000000012 38.30074 -84.711922000000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641875670987528012.post-89061798782970613532012-07-20T14:22:00.000-04:002012-07-21T14:25:43.440-04:00Teen attacked, police not in position to determine 'hate crime'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSuUH8pN7ew/TJ9ppzBu9lI/AAAAAAAAAwU/mpc2rZovAQQ/s1600/wave3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSuUH8pN7ew/TJ9ppzBu9lI/AAAAAAAAAwU/mpc2rZovAQQ/s1600/wave3.gif" /></a></div><b>LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - </b>A Louisville teen can barely talk, eat or breathe after an attack near Churchill Downs. Her family believes it was a hate crime. However, Louisville Metro Police Department investigators do not make that determination. It's a distinction handled by the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's Office.<br /><br />Fourth Division officers continue to investigate the apparent attack that occurred around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday that sent a 17-year-old girl to the hospital with a broken jaw, bruises and cuts covering her body. "Officers did receive a call of a possible assault. Upon further investigation, we've enhanced it to robbery," Public Information Officer Dwight Mitchell said.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W6rCiYOgIw/UArxoJ7xcOI/AAAAAAAABEs/p-T29Y1SJCc/s1600/14news.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W6rCiYOgIw/UArxoJ7xcOI/AAAAAAAABEs/p-T29Y1SJCc/s1600/14news.gif" /></a></div>The vicitm's family insists it wasn't a robbery, but an attack on the teen because she is gay. "This was a hate crime. There was hate slurs thrown. It was not a robbery," family friend Brenda Hickerson said. "She is a very proud lesbian girl and they were attacked for that very reason."<br /><br />Police said two men and a woman approached the teen girl, along with two other boys, sometime during the early morning hours Tuesday. The men proceeded to attack the minors and grabbed a cell phone, according to Mitchell.<br /><br />Police have not charged anyone with the crime. Mitchell said the details regarding the slurs will be included in charging documents if an individual is arrested.<br /><br />"We may indicate that in the arrest once we've made the arrest - that any type of comments or slurs that were made could possibly enhance the charge if a court and a judge sees fit for that to happen," Mitchell told WAVE 3.<br /><br />It's a story WAVE 3 broke Tuesday night. By Wednesday, The Kentucky Equality Federation issued a news release indicating the organization has made contact with the victims' families to "offer mental health services, legal services, or spiritual services after the attack."<br /><br />In a prepared statement, Kentucky Equality Federation Regional Director Jeff Johnson said, "Obviously the people who did this have no fear of being prosecuted. We urge the Louisville Metro Police Department to throw every resource into finding those responsible, it is impossible to believe no forensic evidence was left at the scene of the crime."<br /><br />Police have a vague description of the men who attacked the teens. If you or anyone you know has information regarding the incident, you're urged to call the anonymous tip line at 574-LMPD.<br /><br />Story by: Scott Adkins, and&nbsp;Connie Leonard<br /><br />Read more at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wave3.com/story/19058882/teen-attacked-police-not-in-position-to" target="_blank">WAVE3 News</a><br /><br />Read more at:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.14news.com/story/19058882/teen-attacked-police-not-in-position-to?clienttype=printable" target="_blank">14 News</a><br /><br /><script src="http://wave.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=582581;hostDomain=www.wave3.com;playerWidth=475;playerHeight=275;isShowIcon=true;clipId=7518400;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay" type="text/javascript"></script><a href="http://www.wave3.com/" title="wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather ">wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather </a>Adminnoreply@blogger.com1Louisville, KY, USA38.2526647 -85.758455738.053160199999994 -86.0743127 38.4521692 -85.4425987